Ireland’s quest for its inaugural directly elected mayor sees two more political figures from Fine Gael and the Labour party throw their hats in the ring, with the vote taking place this June in Limerick.
Fine Gael Councillor, Daniel Butler, is vying for a nomination from his party, with a selection meeting scheduled in Limerick on the approaching Friday, which Taoiseach Simon Harris is set to attend. Unless another candidate from the same side surfaces, Butler appears to have a clear shot at the nomination.
Butler, no stranger to mayoral duties having served the role ceremonially for Limerick City between 2021 and 2022, recognises the tremendous opportunity this new position affords in driving a Limerick-centric agenda. If victorious, he promises to be a champion for every citizen of the city and county. Former Limerick City TD and ex-Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan has thrown his support behind Butler, praising his unwavering commitment as a councillor since 2014, and expressing his belief in Butler’s potential to be an exceptional city-wide mayor for Limerick.
Labour councillor Conor Sheehan meanwhile, has also announced his intent to pursue his party’s nomination, pitching himself as a ‘mayor of homes’. Should he succeed, Sheehan aims to advocate for people who find themselves priced out of homeownership or affordable rentals. Intent on engaging with communities about their housing necessities, Sheehan pledges to lay out a blueprint for a future Limerick wherein everyone is assured a stable and comfortable dwelling. The Labour Party’s selection convention is due on the 22nd of April.
The mayoral vote shares its date with the local and European elections on the 7th of June, offering the elected mayor not just a significant salary, exceeding €154,000, but also an annual budget of €8 million for various projects and initiatives.
The unique position, the first of its kind in Ireland, affords the mayor the privilege of suggesting Limerick City and County Council’s annual budget, subject to approval by the councillors.
Lastly, there are other confirmed contenders for the race, which are yet to be announced.
The mayoral candidates representing various parties for the forthcoming election include Dee Ryan from Fianna Fáil, Brian Leddin TD of the Green Party, Maurice Quinlivan TD for Sinn Féin, Councillor Elisa O’Donovan standing for the Social Democrats, and Councillor Conor Sheehan of the Labour Party. Others are Ruairí Fahy of the People Before Profit, Sarah Beasley for Aontú, Dr Laura Keyes representing the An Rabharta Glas party, Gerben Uunk from the Party for Animal Welfare, and independent contenders John Moran and Helen O’Donnell. Besides supervising the implementation of the Local Development Plan over the next five years, the future mayor will also have the opportunity to communicate directly with Cabinet Ministers in a fixed number of annual sessions.