Knowing that there is an anxiety, and I think an almost unanimous anxiety, on the part of the people of Cork to have local government restored to their elected representatives as soon as possible, I suggest that the House should give this Bill the very closest possible attention and should look at it with a view to getting, as nearly as possible, a Bill that will meet the requirements of every individual opinion in the House, while at the same time not rushing its consideration. To my mind, if we were to take the difference between the old system and what is proposed now, we would get a very good Bill. The essential difference is the introduction of the City Manager system. Offering an individual opinion. I say that I am prepared to accept that as a step in the right direction, and in stating that I would like it to be definitely understood that I want a City Manager appointed and not a city master. I believe that there is in this Bill a basis on which we could all meet one another's wishes, and I would suggest that the Minister should, if possible, meet the views and the criticisms that will be expressed on this Bill, allow the people of Cork to vest full authority in those that they will elect and give them the right and the authority to administer the city's affairs. My objection to transferring that authority to a manager is exactly the same as it would be if it were transferred, we will say, to the Minister for Local Government. I do not mind the Minister having a check on and a certain amount of authority over the proceedings of the Council, but he should not be in a position to suggest or to recommend particular activities in the city, at any rate, without making these suggestions through the elected representatives. In speaking of the City Manager, I would also like to be satisfied that there is a necessity for existing officials, particularly the Town Clerk. I would like to get an assurance that the body elected will have authority—I think they actually will under this Bill—to suggest, if the occasion arose, that only one official would be acting in that capacity. To my mind, the functions of the City Manager and of the Town Clerk are similar.
I am of opinion that the first election should be for the entire number of members for the future body. I admit that there may be an argument for the annual election of a portion of the number, but I suggest that the Minister should give weight to that point. I firmly believe that in Cork it would be more popular than an annual election would be. Again, there is the expense of annual elections. While agreeing, personally at any rate, that the appointment of a manager is a good one, I think it was a wrong principle to name a particular individual. I hope I will not be misunderstood in making that remark, because I am not going to enter into any controversy as to whether Mr. Monahan is or is not the most capable manager that could be found for Cork. The Bill states that "there shall be paid by the Council to the Manager such remuneration as the Minister shall from time to time determine." I think that that is absolutely wrong in principle, that the elected representatives are really the people who are most competent to judge what additional remuneration the Manager may be entitled to. As far as I can see the Manager is being brought up to the level of the elected representatives, and beyond that level. I am prepared to give the Manager every authority possible, provided that that authority comes from the Corporation. In my opinion they should have the same authority as the board of directors of any business concern, and the City Manager should simply take his orders from them and carry out their policy. Another point is that the Manager and the Town Clerk can themselves pay accounts, and admit any expense or accounts or any liability incurred by the Council. I think that at least another name should be added to theirs, that is the chairman of the meeting at which those accounts were passed. Again, I would suggest that, in the formulation of the actual policy of the Corporation, the Town Clerk should give at least the usual reasonable notice of the intended working of that policy, at periods of one or two months, so that the Council would have an opportunity of advising and making suggestions to the Manager. I do not quite understand what machinery will be substituted for the twelve standing committees of the old council. whether they will simply be suspended and the work done by the Manager, so that committee work will no longer be necessary and that the council will simply meet fortnightly or monthly but will not have an opportunity of discussing the actual carrying out of their policy. I would like the Minister also to consider seriously Section 19, which places in the hands of the Manager the absolute right of acting for the Corporation "in every action or other civil proceeding, whether civil or criminal, instituted in any court of law or equity by or against the Corporation." I am perfectly satisfied that there is in this Bill a basis on which we could construct a good system of government for the city, after an exchange of ideas by Deputies and an endeavour to meet their different points of view.
It has been stated that this Bill will be applied to other boroughs in Ireland. That may be right or it may be wrong. Possibly the principle could be applied, if accepted by the other boroughs and by this House, but I do not think— and I do not think there is a Deputy here who will disagree with me—that the actual details which could be suitably applied to Cork could at the same time be suitably applied to Dublin, particularly the greater Dublin which is now in the air. I am perfectly certain that there are many activities that are peculiar to Cork and that could not be applied to Waterford, Limerick or Dublin. The real essential I think the Minister ought to meet is to vest the full authority of the people in the representatives. It is only a question of trust. The Manager will have his actual position defined, giving him every authority that is absolutely essential for the efficient administration of the city. I believe that in time it will really develop in such a way that he must be really influenced by his directors, who are elected representatives, and that they will guide him in a policy for the future government of the city. I ask the Minister why not concede those points now? In making that right, while the amendments that would be necessary would be many— some from myself—they would simply be a change of words.
For instance, I cannot understand what objection the Minister could have to having the cheques in settlement of accounts which are sent in signed, in addition to the two servants of the Corporation, by an elected representative. Is it that his signature is not as good as those working under the city authorities? I quite understand that small accounts might be dealt with in the way they were met in the old days, when a limited sum was voted for the payment of such accounts. That money would be at the disposal of a City Manager. But I certainly think it is essential that the new body should have absolute right to deal with the spending of every penny of the rates. They are responsible for striking the rates, and for the estimate. I cannot see the reason for not granting power to criticise expenditure and safeguard their responsibility. I saw that reference was made in the debate that took place last week to a public body and Irish manufacture. I think it was wrong. I remember the incident, and I say that Irish manufacture got a preference from that body, and that Irish manufactured articles were purchased. I am sure the same would apply in the future. In this Bill I think that the elected representatives will have authority to control the Manager to that extent.
As to the authority over the staff, speaking personally, I think it is a step in the right direction, provided the Corporation have full authority over the Manager, and that if any victimisation takes place the elected body will have an opportunity of bringing him to book. If his explanation is satisfactory, it is for that body to say so. But the essential thing for the good government of Cork lies only in one direction and that is the question of authority. If you take authority out of the hands of the elected representatives, you are not going to get a decent type of public representatives into these bodies, because they will not stand for election. Perhaps, for a year or two, if this Bill passes as it now stands, you would get a certain representation, but, if it is going to be a close borough, and if the Manager will be the actual master of the elected representatives, I think it will be found that in a few years you will get no decent representation in local government. I am perfectly prepared to stand by that statement. The difference between giving the Corporation full authority and the authority given them in the Bill is so small that I cannot see any reason why the Minister should not grant the little but more that is required in order to have a really good Bill, and get the good-will of this House and the good-will of the people of Cork. In this Bill the absolute authority of the Corporation over policy has not been clearly defined with regard to future expenditure. The Bill says: "The Manager shall cause to be prepared in each year at the prescribed time and in the prescribed form an estimate." At what date prior to that do the Corporation have authority to suggest, say, a scheme of housing or improved methods of sanitation?