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

Amendment No. 82 proposes a new section authorising, subject to council approval, the mayor to enter into co-operation agreements with cities and municipalities in any country for the benefit of diplomatic, cultural, environmental, social and economic relationships. The amendment also proposes that co-operation of this nature can focus on participating in European Union projects.

There is already an existing provision under section 75 of the Local Government Act 2001 for a local authority to enter into twinning relationships. The same section also provides that a local authority may establish a "similar link", to twinning, with any other area outside the State, provided that such a link generates benefits including social and cultural advantages. Establishing links under this provision of the Act is a reserved function which can only be performed by the elected council. Therefore Limerick may already form a relationship that closely matches what is proposed in the first part of the amendment. We already have many of them.

The second element of the amendment proposes that the mayor may enter into an agreements between Limerick and another EU city or municipality with the goal of participating in European Union projects. In this regard, article 10 of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which Ireland has signed and ratified, already entitles Limerick to form consortia with other local authorities in order to carry out tasks of common interest and to associate with other local authorities to protect and promote common interests. This is yet another framework for facilitating much of what the amendment proposes. Nevertheless, the European Charter of Local Self-Government makes reference to local authorities' entitlement to cooperate with one another "under such conditions as may be provided for by the law".

It is already in there. There is one thing I have been very conscious of with the legislation. I have a general rule that if it is working, do not touch it. I have tried to take the really good, positive elements of current local government and retain them within the Bill. That is why I have left unaffected the chamber and the role of the councillors. It is something I feel very strongly about. On the proposed amendment, again, it is working, it is provided for in the legislation and on that basis I am not minded to accept it.