Calls for new mayor of Limerick to follow hurlers' lead
TO MAKE a success of Limerick's executive mayor, the right structures and investment need to be put around it, in the same manner as the hurlers have.
That's according to Limerick TD Richard O'Donoghue, who criticised the €8m projected spend on the role as a "pittance".
He was speaking in Dail Eireann at the second reading of the legislation underpinning the new role, a stage which represents the first opportunity for politicians to debate the main principles of the bill.
Mr O'Donoghue joined other opposition TDs in criticising the scope of the new job - which government hopes will be elected next summer.
He described the role as being "diluted" in comparison to what's was promised ahead of the plebiscite in 2019 which saw Limerick people vote to adopt the position.
"When we go about something, we can do it right. To do this right, we will have to make amendments to it to make sure it is right because people do not want a diluted version. To get water from Limerick to Croom is costing €4 million. Yet the directly elected mayor for Limerick city and county is being given a budget of €8 million," he said.
"Why is the Limerick team so good at hurling? They invested in the infrastructure for the players to make them what they are today. They put in the proper management team and put all the other services around them. That built into what we have today - our four-in-a-row. Hopefully we will have five. That is because of the infrastructure put into the team and the proper management. That is why we can build things in Limerick, with the proper infrastructure," Mr O'Donoghue added.
Elsewhere, it's emerged serving members of An Garda Síochána will not be able to stand to be the directly elected mayor of Limerick.
Speaking in Dail Eireann, Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell - the Limerick TD responsible for bringing through the legislation - said there will be a number of jobs which would rule out being able to serve.
Other professions which will not be eligible for a shot at the new role include those working for the European Commission, said the Fine Gael man.
Sinn Fein City TD Maurice Quinlivan said he believes the job will be a “ceremonial role” as opposed to one with “meaningful powers and influence.”
“It certainly is not a beacon of progress that other local authorities will wish to aspire to,” he said.
Government has previously outlined its hopes that Limerick people will go to the polls to elect an executive mayor on the same day as the local elections, early next June.
It's an assertion repeated by Mr O'Donnell.
He highlighted how the new directly elected mayor of Limerick will set up a delivery board for Project Ireland 2040, a government blueprint which has a target of increasing the city’s population by 50% in the next 17 years.
The legislation will see a director general appointed to head up Limerick City and County Council, with that person subservient to the first citizen.
Mr Quinlivan said, however, as it starts, it is “one-nil to the County and City Management Association.”
He was referring to the industry body which represents the top brass of councils, which had an input into the legislation.
Another new position due to be created will be that of the “prime councillor”, who will act as a speaker for the local authority.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik warned “a power battle” could take place between them and the executive mayor.