Reviewing the office of Directly Elected Mayor

Without taking sides in the latest row between Mayor John Moran and a subset of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors, as reported widely in the media in recent days, and on the Mayor's own website, it is clear that something has to be done to restore trust and the working relationship between the Mayor and the Councillors. This together with the fracas that occurred before Christmas between the Mayor and his Director General Dr. Pat Daly and other skirmishes since his election suggest that mediation of some kind may be required. It is worth pointing out, however, that the legislation underpinning the Directly Elected Mayor provides for a statutory review of the office after three years. This was an amendment to the legislation that I proposed to Minister Kieran O'Donnell, which he accepted (although I had asked for the review to be after two years rather than three). Below is the relevant Statute.

Review of Act

7. (1) The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the establishment day, conduct a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act and shall, not later than 3 months after the end of that period of 3 years, or on the completion of the review, whichever is the earlier, make a report, in writing, to each House of the Oireachtas of the findings of the review and of the conclusions drawn from those findings.

(2) In conducting a review under this section, the Minister shall consult with the Mayor, Limerick City and County Council, the consultative forum and such other persons as the Minister considers appropriate for the purpose of the review. It is evident that not enough thought was given to the possibility of a maverick, independent like Moran winning the election and assuming executive authority over a Council dominated and controlled by parties and personalities that are his political adversaries. Any review should deal with this structural anomaly, and it should also clarify the division of powers and functions of the Mayor, their Director General, the Príomh Comhairleoir and the 40 elected councillors.