Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 28:

In page 23, line 8, to delete “section 34.” and substitute the following: “section 34;

“United Nations Sustainable Development Goals” means the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 to 17 set out in the document entitled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2015” or any document which amends or replaces that document.”.

Amendment No. 28 is somewhat technical but it relates to the wider set of amendments here. It seeks to insert the following definition of the United Nations sustainable development goals into Part 4 of the legislation. The United Nations sustainable development goals means those goals, Nos. 1 to 17, inclusive, "set out in the document entitled 'Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2015' or any document which amends or replaces that document". The definition is the same one used in our Government’s own circular economy Act, so it is consistent with Government’s own legislation in this respect.

The sustainable development goals are important and crucial as a high point of a vision of what it might mean to live well on this planet together. They are a moment in terms of a vision for common humanity. At a time when that kind of universal positive vision for what a sustainable future for all of us might look like seems very difficult, it is important we hold to those moments and clear blueprints that remind us that a sustainable, more equitable and environmentally and socially sustainable future is possible.

Sustainable development goal No. 11 is particularly important because it relates to sustainable cities and communities. Bear in mind, Ireland is not just a signatory to the sustainable development goals; we were the key chairs of the negotiation process on these goals. It requires, under its target No. 11.3, that signatories would, “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries [and all cities].” Theses amendments try to give effect to ensuring that the sustainable development goals are properly reflected in the functions of the mayor and the work that will be done by the future mayor.

Amendment No. 67 seeks to provide for the constitution of the Limerick Project Ireland 2040 delivery board by adding that the príomh chomhairleoir, effectively the chair of the council, would be a member of the board. This is a little bit different. Many of the things that will be in Project Ireland 2040 were campaigned, pressed and fought for by elected councillors. It would be appropriate that elected councillors would have a voice. The Minister of State spoke about that special and different power elected councillors have and their responsibility, which is different from the mayor. It is important there is a voice for elected councillors in the board delivering Project Ireland 2040. They are the ones who, in many cases, sought for issues and projects to be included in the development plans that are being delivered, so they indeed should have a voice. The Limerick city and county development plan was in itself a reserved function of the councillors. It is important its delivery under the Project Ireland 2040 group should be reflected by councillors and should have a councillor voice.

Amendment No. 68 is another version, which would have two members of the elected council on a biannual basis to be placed on the board. This is the same principle of ensuring the elected representatives who worked with the people of Limerick in the compilation of the development plan and contributed to the compilation of the national development plans would have a voice.

Amendment No. 69 seeks to amend the functions of the delivery board by providing that it would support implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Amendment No. 70 reorders the listed priority implementations. This seems to be a small piece but it is on the items listed to ensure that in case it be interpreted that there is a prioritisation issue, we do not believe the national planning framework should be mentioned as the priority and first function but rather something that follows and surrounds the core work of this delivery board and the mayor. We propose the order to be: the Limerick city and county development plan, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area strategic plan, the national development plan and then the national planning framework. We have concerns that there could effectively be a board that is focused on the national planning framework to the neglect of the vision in the Limerick development plan set out by the public in electing their representatives.

I wish to step out for a moment. I have extensive notes but I will try to move through them. There are a number of amendments here and I have other amendments in other sections that relate to the functions of the mayor. I wish to highlight that a big missing piece in this legislation is the idea of a biodiversity of the environment or the idea of sustainable cities, yet we know that mayors are making an impact all around the world. We see what a mayor did in Paris, for example. It is mayors who are making a difference in many cases around sustainability.

Cities can lead. For example, C40 is a global network of mayors of the world’s leading cities who are united in action in respect of the climate crisis. I recall attending the climate talks when the United States had pulled back from the Paris Agreement. There was the We Are Still In movement, which was cities from across the United States that said they were still going to continue and deliver on the Paris Agreement, even if it was not being delivered at a national level by the United States. At a municipal level, they were committed to it.A lot of what is happening and what is exciting in many cities around the world in terms of cities becoming drivers of new ways of doing things, of social, environmental and economic sustainability, and recognising our cities need to breathe, be biodiverse, be green spaces and have life in them, is in the biodiversity, environmental and sustainability space, and that is missing from the Bill. It is just not there at the moment. I will be proposing it in this section but also in other sections. I indicate that I do not believe this Bill should leave the Seanad without that massive gap having been addressed in some way

I will go through the amendments again. Amendment No.69 seeks to amend the functions of the delivery board to support implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and the United Nations sustainable development goals. Amendment No. 70 reorders the priorities. Amendment No. 71 would include the words "biodiversity protection and enhancement" and the provision of infrastructure relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, because we are looking at both of these. This is vital in terms of water infrastructure and the rivers. Amendment No. 72, seeks to caveat the responsibilities of the arrangement, co-ordination and provision of social and economic regeneration measures with the provision that they should also be ecologically and socially sustainable. Amendment No. 73, insert a paragraph mandating the delivery board to support the arrangement, co-ordination and provision of climate action and biodiversity protection and enhancement measures.

Amendment No. 74 seeks to delete the provision in 33(4)(c) which requires the delivery board's mandate to co-ordinate initiatives, supports and funding in Limerick and in support of rural areas and regeneration of rural towns to be done in line with Government policy. The council in Limerick may have the option of supporting Government policy, but it should also have the ability to work imaginatively on its own initiative. There is no reason Limerick should not be ahead of Government policy. There is no reason Limerick should not be doing something better than Government. There is no reason something good might not happen in Limerick, particularly in terms of environment, biodiversity and sustainability, which could inspire other cities, the Government and even other cities around the world. Other countries might look to Limerick as a leader. Let us not have the constraint that this is just about delivering some Government policy at a local level and arranging the deck chairs. Limerick can do something new. It is really important there is the capacity for Limerick to lead and go beyond. I say that again in the context of having seen how cities around the world have often led on the environment and we have seen national governments catching up.