Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We debated this at great length last week and it was a very informative debate.My position remains unchanged. I remind the House that the Schedule covers various Acts that have come in over many years. One does not expect a Minister to effectively implement all the provisions of a Bill; that is the work of the staff in the Department. It is the same position here. The mayor will drive policy. I do not want the mayor getting bogged down in detail. The role of the mayor involves driving policy and development plans and bringing the budget forward. All those things are currently brought forward by the CEO, so it is a major transfer of power. I am absolutely true.

Under the various headings that were put to the people by plebiscite, various aspects of legislation apply - various grant schemes, permits, licenses, operating key schemes, service level agreements, compliance, planning and enforcement. The mayor should not have any role in planning. That is a role, like anything else, where people apply to the council itself.

I understand the thrust of the amendments. However, it is hugely important that the mayor has the ability to drive policy. That is what was put to the people. The application of that policy and the applications of the areas that remain the responsibility of the CEO come in under various Acts. It is important we list those Acts.

Regarding the process, I do not see the following happening because we have been very true to this. If situations arise where certain elements in the Schedule should instead be with the mayor, there is a review mechanism – a consultation forum – that will take place in that regard. Councillors retain exactly the powers they have. The mayor brings additionality and the mayor is getting a mandate from the people to implement their programme and policy.

On that basis, many areas of the amendments are already covered under the legislation. It may be a bit old fashioned but I always go back to the democratic wish of the people. I have stood before them enough times myself, as many other Members of the House have. Certainly, what is in the legislation is true to that. It is hugely important that the mayor brings additionality. There has to be a transfer of functions from the CEO to the mayor – not from the councillors to the mayor.

Furthermore, regarding reports that have come from Europe, they welcome the directly elected mayor legislation and want to see more of that. Ultimately, it is the democratic wish of the people.

With that, I am not minded to accept the amendments, but I accept the genuineness of them.