Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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681. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that where a cathaoirleach-mayor requisitions a special meeting of a local authority under Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act and the meetings administrator and city-county manager refuse to issue a notification for the meeting, then a valid meeting of the local authority cannot take place; if it has been brought to his attention that there is no mechanism in the Local Government Act 2001 whereby the cathaoirleach-mayor can compel the meetings administrator and city-county manager to issue a notification for a meeting so requisitioned; in the interests of local democracy and local self-government, if he will consider introducing legislation which will allow the cathaoirleach-mayor to directly issue notification for such a meeting to councillors in cases where the meetings administrator and city-county manager refuse to issue a notification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46397/13]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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706. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the formal calling of a council meeting must be done by notice from a meetings administrator; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the acting deputy Sligo county manager (details supplied), failed to ensure that notification was issued to the elected councillors for statutory meetings of Sligo Borough Council in October and November 2013, and that the acting deputy Sligo county manager failed to ensure that notification was issued to councillors for borough council meetings requisitioned by the Mayor of Sligo for 21 October and 4 November 2013; if the Assistant Secretary of his Department has appointed a person as Sligo county manager temporarily from 4 November 2013 until a permanent appointment is made; if the Assistant Secretary of his Department has received assurances from the person that the will carry out their statutory duties as Sligo county manager and ensure that notification for meetings of Sligo Borough Council are issued to councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46911/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 706 together.

Part 6 and Schedule 10 of the Local Government Act 2001 set out the legal provisions with regard to the meetings and proceedings of local authorities, including the requisition of special meetings and the role of the meetings administrator. Paragraph 6 (5) of Schedule 10 sets out the circumstances where the meetings administrator shall issue a notification of the meeting, along with the agenda, when a requisition for a special meeting of the local authority is made. As this provision is mandatory, along with requirements to provide public notice of meetings which are requisitioned, I do not propose to provide that the Cathaoirleach may issue this notification to the elected members.

I am aware of allegations of inappropriate behaviour at meetings of the Sligo Borough Council and the potential implications of such behaviour for the health and well-being of staff attending these meetings. Any meeting of a local authority must be held in compliance with all relevant legal obligations, including the obligation on an employer to ensure that employees work at all times in a safe environment. Ms Dorothy Clarke has been appointed as temporary County Manager for Sligo in accordance with the provisions of section 145 of the Local Government Act 2001, inter alia with the responsibility to discharge the duties of manager for Sligo Borough Council.