INDEPENDENT mayoral candidate John Moran is of the view that the upcoming election gives us a chance at a fresh start to make local governance more transparent, inclusive, and open.
Mr Moran said that, if elected, that he intends to ask the Limerick Mayoral Advisory and Implementation Committee to establish at least three implementation sub-committees.
These sub-committees, he says, will focus on rigorous monitoring and delivery of a more liveable Limerick with more affordable housing and better quality of life; a more prosperous Limerick with more jobs for graduates and others; and a more healthy Limerick with wellbeing at its core.
In a further step to permit him to begin the delivery of his plan, the former Finance Department General Secretary invited organisations or experts who would have an interest in helping participate in the delivery sub-committees to make contact. The closing date for the receipt of such applications with be close of business on the second day after the election results are confirmed, he said.
“Anyone who understands the complexity of what needs to be done within only four months by the mayor will understand that it is virtually impossible to do that well from a standing start on the day after the count,” he claimed.
“To allow me to move quickly, I have already published a comprehensive draft mayoral programme for consultation with the voters of Limerick. I want them to be sure before the election date what I stand for and leave them in no doubt what I am committing to deliver.”
Mr Moran says that, with his experience in public sector administration, he knows the amount of time which risks being lost if the successful candidate waits until after the election to begin setting up the statutory committees needed to complete the process.
“If an elected mayor waits, the only other way to do things quickly would be to appoint party insiders to those committees, and that is simply not my way. People are telling me loudly that they intend to vote for change. The statutory committees and the new council also need sufficient time to consider the plan before the deadline expires.”
