Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think we are almost out of time but I will say, and I mean this respectfully, I am so disappointed. The interpretation of the plebiscite the Minister of State has included in this Bill is so conservative. If we were to ask the people of Limerick if they would like their mayor to tackle the issue of waste management, they would tell us that of course they would. The idea that it would instead lie with the director general, an unelected position, rather than with the democratically elected mayor, is not acceptable.

The whole issue of public realm improvements is similar. Surely to God that is what a Limerick mayor should be there to tackle. The fundamental point I must make to the Minister of State is that this was an opportunity to enhance democratic accountability and powers at local level in our city of Limerick and he has consistently missed that opportunity. All of the reasonable points that have been made today about how we might enhance those powers have been rejected by the Minister of State. My colleague, Deputy Quinlivan, made the point in the Dáil that the Minister of State did not reach out to meet us halfway on any of these points. The real pity is that Limerick city and county will be all the poorer for that. This is happening under the Minister of State's watch and it is very much a missed opportunity.