In numerous European nations, influential elected mayors are a prominent element of local governance, yet this concept has struggled to gain traction in Ireland. The reasons for this have been rooted in the highly centralised nature of Irish politics and a clientelist culturally influenced resistance to political support for this scheme.
Limerick hasn’t seen great benefit from the conventional models of local governance, dealing with high degrees of deprivation, despite the county being affluent overall. A 2019 poll, where 52% of votes were for an elected mayor, signifies a demand for transformation.
John Moran, recently elected as the mayor of Limerick city and county, will be assessed on his abilities to shift perceptions both internally and externally, which will also determine the efficacy of elected mayors as a practice. By contrast, Waterford and Cork voted against mayors in their 2019 plebiscites.
Moran appears well-positioned to effect change on paper, equipped with substantial executive powers in areas like economic and spatial planning, housing, roads and environmental concerns. He is promised more funding from the central government for his mayoral scheme. The scheme aims to establish the vision and objectives for his five-year tenure.
The new mayor has the support of his team of five members, which includes an exclusive adviser plus new organisations designed to facilitate interaction with the government and further aid in fulfilling his mayoral duties.
With a background in finance and training as a lawyer, Moran’s tenure as secretary general of the Department of Finance during the banking crisis from 2012 to 2014 should help him manoeuvre through this red tape and form an effective partnership with the director general of the council. This will be vital as the director general, a perpetual civil servant, maintains the common functions of the chief executive and manager that the new mayor does not hold. Of these functions, council finances management is the most influential.
Moran, an independent candidate, must liaise with the freshly chosen City and County Council where majority seats are held by the government parties. Although the mayor has the prerogative to draft the annual budget, it needs council approval and they can rightfully interrogate him.
The establishment of this role, at its core, aims to boost the accountability of local government within a democratic framework. This innovative approach is acknowledged in a review section within the legislation, commencing after a span of three years.
The real test of this initiative’s success will present itself in five years’ time, courtesy of the citizens of Limerick, at the subsequent election. This needs to be the evaluation criterion in a democratic setting.