Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1330: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the fact that county managers are not required to implement majority or even unanimous motions passed by their local authority. [1256/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The elected council and the county/city manager carry out their respective reserved and executive functions in accordance with the various legislative codes under which local authorities operate. The Local Government Act 2001 provides that it is the duty of every manager to carry into effect all lawful directions of the elected council of a local authority or a joint body for which he or she is manager in relation to the exercise and performance of the reserved functions of the local authority or joint body.

My Department will be publishing a Green Paper on local government reform in the coming weeks in accordance with the Programme for Government. The Green Paper will examine a number of issues with the objective of making local government more transparent and more responsive, and will set out options for reform in advance of a subsequent White Paper. Issues to be considered in the Green Paper will include that of ensuring a proper balance of power at local levels between the elected representatives and the Manager.