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

I will speak to amendments Nos. 12 and 14 to 18, inclusive, from the Civil Engagement Group and Government amendment No. 19 as they relate to the mayoral advisory and implementation committee and have been grouped for discussion. Amendment Nos. 14 to 16, inclusive, relate to membership of the committee and seek to mandate representatives of An Taisce, the environmental pillar and the Irish Wildlife Trust as members of the committee. A key role of the committee, which the mayor will chair, will be to support the mayor in preparing the implementation of the mayoral programme. It will support the mayor in driving progress in economic, touristic, social and cultural matters in the interests of sustaining employment, co-ordinating initiatives and services, funding to support rural areas and measures concerning town regeneration. It is entirely fitting that the mayor should be the person to appoint committee members, including elected members and representatives of nominating bodies, as appropriate. In this regard, it is clearly in the mayor's own interest to have a broad representation in this committee. It is key to the success of his or her term as mayor. I do not believe that amendments that constrain the mayor in this regard would be beneficial to the overall function of the office of mayor. For that reason, I cannot accept them.

Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 revisit, combine and rephrase some of the Civil Engagement Group's proposals for section 32 on Committee Stage. Current proposals seek to expand the function of the advisory and implementation committee by adding climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development goals. Amendment No. 12 proposes to include a definition for the term "United Nations Sustainable Development Goals". Several amendments on Report Stage have the same core objective on these important issues. I have been wary of being overly prescriptive but the emphasis that might have placed on the issue is something I fully agree with. Amendment No. 19, to the same subsection, which I will speak to shortly, reflects this. By merging the topics of nature, biodiversity and sustainable development into a single subsection, I have also ensured that the list of issues the committee should address is not excessive. The proposed amendments from Senator Higgins to section 33 also touch on climate action. I am proposing in further amendments to the Bill that they integrate a role for the mayor's delivery board transport subgroup, supporting the implementation of the Limerick climate action plan requirement under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Civil Engagement Group, with Senator Higgins bringing forward amendments on its behalf, for its commitment to climate action, biodiversity and sustainability.In my proposed amendments to section 32 and other areas of the Bill, I believe I have catered for much of the intent of these amendments and so I believe I have adequately provided for them

Amendment No. 19 adds to new sections to the mayor advisory implementation committee regarding subsections (d) and (g). These are the areas of nature and biodiversity and the regeneration project in Limerick. There is also some reordering of paragraphs. Senator Boyhan has an amendment on the regeneration projects. The importance of having regard to nature, biodiversity and sustainability was a recurring team during Committee Stage. I undertook to consider whether these would give effect to the concerns raised. I am satisfied that clear reference to promoting, fostering and supporting conservation and restoration of nature, protecting and enhancing biodiversity and sustainability and developing Limerick adds a valuable statement of intent to the role of mayor.

Regeneration was another theme on Committee Stage. Senator Boyhan tabled an amendment in this regard. The regeneration of Limerick has been high on the agenda for many years. While there are a number of references to regeneration in the Bill, I am pleased to make further explicit provision for the mayor's role in the co-ordination of other regeneration projects in Limerick. This provision will encompass redevelopments in Limerick city through the reporting requirements of Limerick 2030 DAC, which will also allow the mayor to drive the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan and any successors it may have. In addition, the provision will clarify the role of mayor in the regeneration of Limerick city beyond what is already provided for. Effectively, within page 26, I inserted two new sections that deal with the functions of the committee. I added two new functions:

(d) to promote, foster and support conservation and restoration of nature, protection and enhancement of biodiversity, and sustainable development in Limerick [and]

(g) the coordination of other regeneration ...

Subsection (f) stated, "the coordination in Limerick of measures giving effect to Government policy concerning the regeneration of towns,", to which, "the co-ordination of other regeneration projects in Limerick", was added, which will encompass all regeneration including Limerick city regeneration projects, which are important and key to the people living there and the city, which I am proud to represent in Dáil Éireann. I am happy to make this amendment and I ask Senators to support it.