Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

To carry on there, I know this is structural, but all through the Bill the mayor can devolve some or all of his functions to the chief executive. I ask the Minister of State to hear me out. The real issue is responsibility, and the word "responsible". Ultimately, the mayor can devolve functions; they will be less effective. Not every mayor will have qualifications in accountancy, economics, engineering or whatever else. A chief executive of a local authority has multiple functions. As a general rule, I am quite supportive of the chief executives of the local authorities. We need to shift their powers, but that is another day's work. On the whole, however, good chief executives are important. The mayor will have ultimate responsibility but can devolve all of his or her functions. The mayor can decide to be the communicator in the chamber but, ultimately, he is empowered to sign off all functions. That is an important point we need to get across. The key is where the responsibility and accountability lie. That is the key around the effectiveness of a mayor and the importance, in terms of accountability, of the mayor back to the people, ultimately, who will elect him or her.