Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair. The Minister of State is welcome back.

With regard to amendment No. 8, if we want this position to be a truly transforming one for local democracy, the position of mayor must be the sole focus of anyone elected. To allow for other employment during the term of office would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has value. If it is to have value, it must be the single focus of any elected mayor, and removing the opportunity for other trade and occupation opportunities will ensure the integrity of the position is maintained. That is my point on that one.

I also want to speak to amendment No. 11, as it falls within this grouping. This is quite a detailed amendment, and I want to read it into the record because it is probably the amendment I feel most passionate about. It states the following should be inserted under section 10: “The Mayor shall have, as a function, an ambassadorial role in the promotion and delivery of a living wage in businesses contained within the administrative area covered by Limerick City and County Council.” On that, I know the Minister of State knows that the introduction of a living wage is a commitment in his own programme for Government. It is something that I and my party are committed to delivering. It would be a wage that allows a person to live with dignity. Allowing the mayor a promotional and ambassadorial role in the delivery of a living wage would allow for this ideal to be highlighted to a larger number of people. This is the first in a number of enhancements that we want to give to the position of mayor.The second states: "The mayoral role shall have promotional and delivery responsibilities in the advertising and promotion of Limerick as a national and international tourist destination." If we deliver a truly democratic mayor with real powers, the person holding this position will have a level of influence and clout that other elected members, TDs, councillors and Senators do not. The power and prestige of the position makes it extremely suitable for the elected mayor to champion the delivery of tourists in great numbers to Limerick. I would have thought that would be something that would really be very much in tune with the Minister of State's thinking. He will join with me in always trying to promote Limerick as a great place to visit and stay in. It makes perfect sense that the mayor should have a particular role in that regard, so why not legislate for it right now? Why wait for a review in three years for something that we all agree should be a central part of the role as mayor?

The next part of the amendment states, "The Mayoral role shall have responsibility for the organising and sharing of the Joint Policing Committee." While this may remove a power from local councillors, it is thought that the chairperson of Limerick city and county joint policing committee, JPC, is a power that should rest with the mayor of the entire Limerick city and county area. I do not need to say to the Minister of State that while we live in a wonderful city, there are pockets where there are significant issues that need the attention of the Garda. Whether we like it or not, the mayor is going to have a role in this area. Why not give him or her this particular power in respect of the JPC?

The amendment next states, "The Mayor shall have executive powers in the realm of waste management." As a trade unionist, this is something very close to my heart. My union and others have campaigned for this for years. I live in the small village of Castleconnell, a place the Minister of State knows well. We currently have four different truck companies driving around collecting rubbish each week. How that ever aligns with good environmental practice is beyond me. There are real concerns regarding the terms and conditions of some of the workers in some of companies as well. This amendment seeks to give the mayor responsibility for waste management, with the specific intention of increasing efficiency in how waste is collected and managed.

The CCPC report of 2018, which was commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, suggested that the current structure is not in the interests of consumers or the environment. In many areas of the city and county, there are multiple companies servicing streets, sometimes with two or three different lorries on the same street in one day. It is not efficient and this is an opportunity to give a mayor a tangible success in their first term that is in the interests of the people of Limerick. The Minister of State must acknowledge that the current system is entirely unsatisfactory. Wherever he lives must be the same as where I live. It makes no sense to have four different sets of trucks coming through one street alone each week.

The amendment further states, "The mayor shall have executive powers for public realm improvements, including disused and unused public spaces." It is crucial for the success of the democratically elected mayoral project that the elected mayor has sufficient powers to ensure that the concern that the position may be a ceremonial, ribbon-cutting one is nullified. Another public representative in the Dáil referred to it as stuffed duck on a mantelpiece. I would not use those words, but the concern we have is apparent. If it is purely or largely ceremonial then the expectations of the citizens of Limerick will be disappointed. They want to see this person be able to impact in a democratic and meaningful way. These are really good simple practical suggestions.

One area of significant power is that of decision-making on the use of idle public space. I urge the Minister of State to be more ambitious and consider this amendment seriously.

The next part of the amendment states:

The Mayor shall have oversight with regard to the implementation of the Limerick Regeneration projects, and any subsequent regeneration programmes, and shall produce an annual report to be delivered to councillors regarding the status of the regeneration programmes.

This would really put meat on the bone in terms of mayoral powers. Regeneration in Limerick has been a mixed bag. I hope the Minister of State will agree with that. In some ways, it has failed and, in others, it has been crucial to enhancing areas that were most impacted by the violent feuds of the mid-2000s. There have been successes and there have been failures across all three pillars of the regeneration project but it is fair to say that the areas are better for the involvement of the regeneration agencies. Regeneration is not just about bricks and mortar; it is about social inclusion and community participation.It is crucial that any future regeneration funding and schemes are directed to the areas that most need them. Giving control of this roll-out to a Limerick-based and democratically elected mayor will enhance the probability that these resources are delivered to those areas.

Amendment No. 11 also states: "The Mayoral role shall, subject to section 213 of the Act of 2000, incorporate executive functions from the chief executive in the realm of land acquisition, with all purchases being subject to the ratification by Limerick City and County Council." It is important the position of mayor is not a ribbon-cutting, ceremonial role. It is over five years since the people of Limerick voted in the plebiscite. After such a wait, it was extremely disappointing to see the Bill as initiated. I am not sure why it took so long to come up with a Bill that provides the mayor with little to no power.

Providing the mayor with the power to acquire land will go some way towards addressing the absence of real power in the initiated Bill. To give a practical example, the people of Limerick would expect the mayor to have an impact on an issue like housing. The Minister of State has not catered for that in the Bill. It is not there.

I hope the Minister of State will take the general point I make. We expected more from this Bill, particularly as it is five years since the people of Limerick voted. It is not there at the minute. These are sensible and reasonable additions to mayoral powers. The people of Limerick would want these powers to be enacted. This Bill would be a huge disappointment. I mean this respectfully. I know Fine Gael is traditionally a conservative party. That is fair enough; that is its perspective on life. However, being overly conservative with this Bill is to the detriment of the people and communities of Limerick. Give the mayor the democratic powers he or she deserves to make an impact in the first term so we can point to this initiative as a success. As the Minister of State pointed out, there are areas across the water where mayoral powers and the role of democratically elected mayors are being withdrawn. We do not want to go down that road. The best way to ensure success is to give sufficient power to this new democratically elected office. It is in the Minister of State's hands. As someone from Limerick, I appeal to the Minister of State to look again, consider these amendments and work with us if he has concerns about the content. Let us do more. If not today, then at least on Report Stage, I ask the Minister of State to work with us.