Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we have more time for this debate at other opportunities in the public domain. I support the opportunity for a plebiscite for the electors of Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council, where the people will decide the outcome of the plebiscite, not Senators or Deputies. It is democratic for them to get that opportunity. The Minister of State is aware of concerns. Minds and votes are to be won by properly informing about and clarifying this debate. In principle, I support the role of a directly elected mayor but I am concerned with the current detailed proposals from Government. Many pros and cons need to be carefully considered. That needs to be debated. There is a concern that there could have been more time and consultation with local authority members, the chief executive officers of councils and with staff who will be directly impacted. In the end, I know that the Minister of State wants to improve the delivery of local government and services, which is important. We need to clarify the relationship between the directly elected mayor and the chief executive officer, and the elected council. There are long-established functions reserved for the executive and with the new role of a directly elected mayor, there will be some confusion. There already is and that needs to be clarified.

The Government's detailed proposals state that where a directly elected mayor can present a strong performance, he or she could potentially strengthen the case for further devolution of powers. Is that up or down? Is it devolution from central government down to the directly elected mayor or is it up from the elected council? We need to clarify that and the Minister of State might address that in debates over the period before the election.There is also a further quote that the mayor can make a case to Government to devolve more powers to him or her. We need to clarify what that is about in the interests of the balance of power with the elected council. We need to reassure the electors and indeed councillors that there cannot be some arrangement between a mayor and the Government of the day that will sidestep and sidetrack the local authority. This just a critical analysis I am giving to the Minister of State about issues that need to be clarified if this plebiscite is to be won, as the Government wants to happen.

The detailed policies state that the elected council should be able to direct the mayor to refrain from doing a particular act. Under section 140 of the Local Government Act, a particular act should remain with elected council. That is not definite enough. It should be either "should" or "would". We need clarity on the roles and responsibilities. I welcome the plebiscite and that there will be more debate on the pros and cons. That is democracy in action.