John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. If I was just to listen to Senator Higgins I might agree with some of the points, but the amendments as listed do quite the opposite to what she stated. I have served on two occasions as mayor and it is not appropriate for the mayor to be bringing forward their own motions. The mayor's job, as head of the council, is to chair those meetings and to deal with the business of the meetings, which the councillors run. To be clear on amendment No. 16, the mayor will be accountable to the council. That is the way we have set up the legislation. I do not see the rationale for the amendments as set out.