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

I thank the Senator for deciding to leave aside amendments Nos. 14 and 15. On amendment No. 16, section 17(1) of the Bill states "The Mayor shall be, ex officio, a member of Limerick City and County Council". Section 17(4) states:

A member of the elected council attending a meeting of Limerick City and County Council may ask questions of the Mayor in relation to the performance by him or her of his or her functions and the Mayor shall answer such questions.

The mayor is therefore accountable to the chamber and there is no question about that. It automatically follows through in terms of the Local Government Act that the CEO is responsible to the chamber and likewise the mayor is responsible as well. It is covered in section 17(4), but the mayor retains the role of being accountable to the chamber under the Schedule as well, so we have provided for it belt and braces.