Sorry, we will do six, five and five.

I welcome the students from west Cork and Zoe from the National Traveller Women's forum who is here with Senator Flynn. Across all communities and demographics, people are expressing a growing feeling of unsafety. People in working class communities feel unsafe in their neighbourhoods, the LGBTQ community reports increased levels of hate and related threats and violence and ethnic minorities and refugees are facing violence, discrimination and even arson attacks on places they live. Since Covid we have seen a remar…

I thank Members for their engagement on the motion and their support of it. Most of them particularly recognised the focus on community policing in it, which the Minister referenced in her speech. Unfortunately, as regards how she referred to it, I do not think she got what community policing is. She talked about how, in policing, all police will be community police. While that may seem very laudable, it is not very good when it comes to the reality on the ground. I am able to get up in the Chamber and, 30 years on…

I second the amendment.

I welcome the passing of the Bill in this House. It will be looked back at in time as a measure that was in itself a small step but which included foundation-shaking implications for the rest of the country. What happens in Limerick will provide a template for all the other cities around the country. More fundamentally, it is about reforming local democracy. As Senator Fitzpatrick said, the Bill will enable us to see somebody with a strong political mandate delivering for city and urban regions. We have forgotten a…

I move amendment No. 40: In page 24, line 21, to delete “consideration” and substitute “approval”. I will discuss the amendments together, if that is okay, and I will move Senator Higgins’s amendments. Amendment No. 40 is very simple. It gives more powers back to councillors rather than the issue of consideration. Councillors would have to approve a mayoral programme. Amendment No. 41 gives councillors more time to consider the programme before it is discussed at the meeting. It changes the length of time for consi…

I move amendment No. 41: In page 24, line 24, to delete “7 days” and substitute “14 days”.

I move amendment No. 44: In page 24, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(6) Members of the elected council may move amendments to the Mayoral programme at meetings referred to in subsection (3) and the Mayor shall either: (a) accept such amendments; or (b) reject such amendments and provide a rationale for such rejection in writing to the elected council.”.

I move amendment No. 45: In page 24, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(c) made available for consultation and borrowing at libraries within the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council,”.

I move amendment No. 46: In page 24, after line 39, to insert the following: “(7) A version of the Mayoral programme shall be produced and made available in plain English.”.

I move amendment No. 47: In page 25, to delete lines 9 and 10 and substitute the following: “(b) such number of members of Limerick City and County Council appointed by the Mayor as the Mayor considers appropriate, who shall be nominated for appointment in accordance with paragraph 18 of Schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 2001, and".

It is pretty self-explanatory. Each of the amendments in this grouping relates to the mayoral advisory council. It proposes that the mayor be able to appoint the number of people he, she or they considers appropriate.

I move amendment No. 48: In page 25, to delete lines 9 and 10 and substitute the following: “(b) such members of Limerick City and County Council appointed by the D’Hondt system, and”.

I move amendment No. 49: In page 25, line 10, to delete “and”.

I move amendment No. 51: In page 25, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(c) to promote, foster and support climate action in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof,”.

I move amendment No. 52: In page 25, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(c) to promote, foster and support the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof,”.

I move amendment No. 53: In page 25, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(c) to promote, foster and support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities, in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof,”.

I move amendment No. 54: In page 25, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(c) to promote, foster and support economic and touristic activities in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof, (d) to promote, foster and support social cohesion and social inclusion in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof, (e) to promote, foster and support culture, creativity and the arts, including music, in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof,”.

I move amendment No. 55: In page 25, line 24, after “social” to insert “, music”.

I move amendment No. 56: In page 25, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(d) to promote, foster and support the Irish language in Limerick, both in the urban and rural areas thereof,”.