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

This amendment, tabled by the Civil Engagement Group, was discussed on Committee Stage. It seeks to clarify that the mayor is accountable to the elected members for performance of his or her functions. I appreciate the Senators' intentions but reiterate the elected council will retain its primacy and the Bill does not change that. The elected members will have an important oversight role and the mayor will be accountable to the elected council under mayoral executive functions. Several formal structures underpin this governance role, including the mayor's report and the mayor's questions at plenary council meetings.

The existing provisions of the Local Government Act 2001 for the council's oversight of the chief executive will also be applicable to the mayor, as set out in the Bill. The modifications to section 149 of the 2001 Act in Schedule 3 clarifies that, similar to a chief executive, the mayor is generally accountable to the council and must perform his or her respective functions in accordance with the policy of the local authority as determined by the elected council and must report to the council as requested.

Part 7 of the Bill sets out provisions for legal mechanisms to remove the mayor through a robust and fair three-tiered process. The process is initiated and advanced through resolutions by elected members representing the democratic will of the council. I cannot accept the amendment.