I accept that the Minister of State does not like the mechanism I am suggesting in amendment No. 23, but it is important that there would be a mechanism. I am going to press amendment No. 21 and withdraw the other two.

Yes.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 21, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 145 of Principal Act 27. Section 145 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (7)— “(8) This section shall not apply in relation to Limerick City and County Council.”.

I move amendment No. 23: In page 21, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “Appointment of director general 27. (1) Where a vacancy occurs in the office of the director general, the responsibility for appointment of a new director general shall lie with Limerick City and County Council. (2) Such vacancies shall be advertised by the Public Appointments Service who shall prepare a shortlist of no less than two and no more than four suitable candidates to be submitted to the elected council. (3) A copy of …

I move amendment No. 24: In page 21, line 27, after “writing” to insert “and with the approval by resolution of the elected council”. These amendments relate to the power of the mayor to delegate functions to the director general. We previously discussed the extraordinarily large numbers of powers that are going to remain with the director general, the seven to eight pages in the Schedule, and the two to three additional pages that are going to be added on foot of Government amendments. There is also a provision in…

-----there is a transfer in one direction but not in the other. What I am really looking for are assurances, clarity and, to a degree, safeguards. Amendment No. 24 would say that delegation made under subsection (1) would have to be approved by resolution of the elected council. If there is a mayor who is elected and says, "Well I do not actually want to do that anymore" and who wants to hand it over to the council, they would have to get the elected council's agreement. Amendment No. 25 would insert a new provisio…

I thank the Minister of State for his indications and co-operation. I am glad to hear that the issue is addressed in respect of amendment No. 27. Regarding amendment No. 25, I am happy to engage with the Minister of State. I will withdraw it. Of course, I reserve the right to bring it back on Report Stage, but I am happy to engage with the Minister of State in the meantime.

I move amendment No. 25: In page 21, after line 39, to insert the following: “(6) The Mayor shall, on an annual basis, provide a list of delegated functions to the elected council.”. I will withdraw the amendment and I reserve the right to reintroduce it.

I move amendment No. 26: In page 21, after line 39, to insert the following: “(6) The elected council may by resolution revoke a delegation under this section.”.

I move amendment No. 28: In page 23, line 8, to delete “ section 34 .” and substitute the following: “ section 34 ; “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals” means the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1 to 17 set out in the document entitled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2015” or any document which amends or replaces that document.”. Amendment No. 28 is somewhat technical but it relates to the wide…

Will the Minister of State indicate where biodiversity is included in this Bill? The Minister of State has said he does not feel it is necessary in various ways and that other legislation exists. In this new Bill that is setting out the vision for Limerick and for the mayor and where lots of specific things are mentioned, such as cultural, rural and social development, as are employment, enterprise and tourism, where is the environment? There is lots of legislation and direct measures relating to all of those areas…

I will be brief in response. One of the reasons this is important is because the bodies with which the Bill anticipates the delivery board will engage are involved in many things, such as rural, social and cultural development, employment, and enterprise and tourism, but again, environmental or heritage bodies are not mentioned in this context. The Bill refers to "including such bodies". I signal now that I may on Report Stage look to specify that the bodies with which the board will engage may include bodies in th…

I move amendment No. 29: In page 23, line 15, to delete "who shall be the chairperson of the consultative forum,". This amendment would delete the provision that the Minister would be the chair of the Limerick mayor and government consultative forum. I believe it would be inappropriate for a Minister to chair the forum. The chair should not be a member of the national Government but should instead come from within local government structures. Amendments Nos. 30 to 32, inclusive, are technical amendments. Amendment …

Amendment No. 29 is important. The idea of engagement is great but having the Minister as chair is a little bit of an imbalance. I will press amendment No. 29 but am happy to come back to the other amendments.

I move amendment No. 30: In page 23, line 17, line 16, to delete “and”.

I move amendment No. 31: In page 23, line 17, to delete “the Mayor.” and substitute “the Mayor, and”.

I move amendment No. 32: In page 23, line 17, to delete “the Mayor.” and substitute “the Mayor,”.

I move amendment No. 33: In page 23, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(d) the Príomh Chomhairleoir, who shall be the chairperson of the consultative forum.”.

I move amendment No. 34: In page 23, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(d) the Príomh Chomhairleoir, who shall be the chairperson of the consultative forum, and (e) two members of the elected council nominated on a bi-annual basis by resolution of the elected council.”

I move amendment No. 35: In page 23, line 24, after “Council” to insert “and the potential for the introduction of additional revenue-raising powers for the elected council”.