TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar is calling for a plebiscite next year to see if voters in Limerick City and County want to elect their own Mayor.
The proposal made by Mr Varadkar in a letter to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is part of a package to extend the Confidence and Supply arrangement which copper fastens the lifetime of the current Government. The current arrangement is due to expire this year.
It is expected the plebiscite would be open to all the electorate in the city and county. Should it pass, the Government would then draw up legislation and, if approved by the Oireachtas, the first elections for Limerick voters for their directly elected Mayor could be held in 2020 or 2021.
And the move has the full backing of Limerick Fine Gael senator Kieran O’Donnell who says it is time the people of Limerick are given their say on having a directly elected Limerick Mayor
“I am delighted that an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has reaffirmed Limerick’s premier status with this firm proposal for a directly elected Mayor here,” Senator O’Donnell said.
“Importantly, it would provide a welcome opportunity for the people of Limerick to democratically decide by way of plebiscite whether to have a directly elected Mayor here. This vote would happen in 2019, possibly on the same day as the local elections.”
“The issue of a directly elected Mayor for Limerick has come up many times in the past. However, this is the first-time that any party is giving a definite intention to progress the matter in a defined timeline and allow the people to decide.
“I believe that this proposal for a plebiscite will be favourably received by the people of Limerick,” he added.
by Tom McCullough
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