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

I wish to acknowledge the phenomenal work of the officials. There are two present but there is a larger team. They have done extraordinary work on this Bill. It is ground-breaking, historic and a new dawn for Limerick in terms of local politics. I acknowledge the major positive contribution from the elected members and the executive of Limerick City and County Council. Change is never easy. I refer to the business community and the wider community in Limerick. The people in Limerick voted for by plebiscite. Senator Maria Byrne was the director of elections for the Government when it was coming through. They voted 52:48 for it. I think it was 51:49 in Cork voting against it and the same in Waterford. I am always conscious that not everyone voted for this, so we have to bring people with us. The legislation received serious debate both in the Dáil and the Seanad. As a former Member of the Seanad, I am fully aware of the contribution it makes. Consequently, on Report Stage I tabled many of the amendments that were tabled here. We do listen.

I have always engaged with the elected members and the executive, and I will do it once again. The legislation will go back to the Dáil, hopefully next week, after which it will go to the President for signing.

There is no reason that other local authorities around the country, such as Cork and Waterford, cannot go to a plebiscite again. This is about giving a directly elected mayor the mandate, means and structures to deliver an enhancement for Limerick while, at the same time, recognising the major contribution of councillors. We have 40 excellent councillors in Limerick. I have no doubt it is the same around the country. I want to maintain the reserve powers they have and I want the mayor to bring added value.

This is ground-breaking legislation. It is subject to review within the first three years. I thank Senator Kyne for chairing this session effectively and Senator Horkan, who previously chaired. I think Senator Byrne was in the Chair as well. They and others worked to ensure the legislation passed and got the probity it needed in a democratic way.

I acknowledge the work of Tim O’Connor, who was chair of the implementation advisory group, IAG. The group brought a serious contribution to the directly elected mayor and the legislation. As Senator Byrne said, we accepted many of the group’s recommendations. I have accepted amendments to this Bill all along. We have looked to integrate them, getting back to Senator Boyhan’s point, to make better legislation. As I said, we all want to work collectively. I am proud of what we have done. It will go to the Dáil next week and then to the President.

Once again, it is on behalf of the people of Limerick. They voted for a directly elected mayor. My role as Minister of State with responsibility for local government was to bring forward the legislation and reflect what they voted on. Therefore, what they voted in the plebiscite is what is in the Bill. We are all on a journey together. I wish any candidates coming forward for the office of directly elected mayor the best. We will have a public awareness campaign when the legislation is passed. We will engage once again with the councillors and the executive to go through it. We have had serious engagement. When we published the Bill originally, before I did any media or forum, I went back to the council. I was a member of the old Limerick County Council myself. I am proud to have been a member of that chamber and I understand what it is about.

In conclusion, I thank Senators Cummins, Fitzpatrick, Boyhan, Moynihan, Byrne and, more particularly, the Cathaoirleach, Senator Buttimer, for his kind words on the conclusion of the Bill. I thank everyone for their constructive contributions. I look forward to this legislation passing in the Dáil next week, based on the amendments we tabled in the Seanad, after which it will go to the President to be signed. We are then in the countdown to the election, which will be on the same day as the local elections. I wish all the candidates well. I am proud to have been involved in this historic legislation, which I think will herald a new dawn of local politics in Limerick and promoting our city, and in terms of the region as well. The Bill provides not only a blueprint for how it can work in Limerick and elsewhere but it allows individual local authorities to hold plebiscites to have their own directly elected mayor. Limerick is leading the way on this occasion in respect of directly elected mayors.