Sinn Féin’s Senator Paul Gavan has called on the government to take this last chance to improve the Bill that sets out the powers for the future directly elected Mayor for Limerick.

The Seanad has commenced Committee Stage of the Bill and Sinn Féin have submitted several amendments to ensure that the role will be more than a ceremonial one.

Senator Gavan said:

“Sinn Féin have proposed amendments throughout the entire legislative process to ensure that a Directly Elected Mayor for Limerick would have sufficient powers to deal with housing, waste management, public realm improvements, as well as the advertising and promoting of Limerick as a national and international tourist destination.

“Unfortunately at each stage the Minister has not engaged with us and has rejected each one.

“I would urge the government to take this last opportunity in the Seanad to reconsider some of the amendments we have put forward and give the people what they were promised; a democratically elected mayor with real executive powers.

“In 2019 the people of Limerick voted to have an elected Mayor of Limerick. The government had over four years to get this legislation right.

“It is clear that without agreeing to further amendments to the Bill the role will fall well short of what was promised and what is needed.

“The position of a directly elected mayor should be a truly transformative one for local democracy and a template that will be followed by other local authorities. The legislation as it stands is clearly a missed opportunity.”