THE Taoiseach has appealed for Mayor John Moran and elected members of Limerick City and County Council to try and resolve their issues and “work together in the best interests of the people of Limerick”.
Micheál Martin made the comments in Limerick today (Friday) while attending a graduation ceremony for the Access to Apprentice program in Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).
He responded to the claims made by the Mayor earlier this week that he felt that the Government “had washed its hands of the review” and urged for an accelerated look into the legislation to take place.
It also follows a detailed three part series in The Currency this week where former Limerick Leader and Sunday Independent editor Alan English focused on the relationship between the Mayor and Council director general Dr Pat Daly.
Mr Martin said: “I think in the first instance this was a major departure in terms of local governance. It’s inevitable in a new structure like this. This was a major departure from the existing governance system within local authorities which went back to the late 1920s.”
“So directly-elected mayors is a really new departure and yes it will be reviewed but you do have to give it a bit of time as well to make sure you know what you’re reviewing. But I would make the point that irrespective of structure, people have to work together”, the Taoiseach added.
The Taoiseach reiterated previous reports that the review will not take place until the end of this year.
Results in Limerick may well influence whether or not other counties, including Dublin, consider introducing their own directly-elected mayor.
“We’ll take learnings from Limerick and obviously that will inform what we do elsewhere around the country. But yes, the Citizen’s Assembly recommended that,” the Taoiseach said.
“I was favourably disposed towards the idea of a directly-elected mayor…we have to look at the structures of how it’s working in Limerick to inform what happens.”
The Taoiseach made a number of stops in Limerick today including at Laurel Hill Secondary school, South Circular Road, who are celebrating 90 years of education.