The appointment of a permanent manager will be a matter for the Local Appointments Commission. The matter that Deputy Mulcahy mentioned is an important one. I agree with him, and I agree with Deputy Reidy, that on the person to be appointed there will fall very heavy duties and responsibilities, and that the very greatest care must be taken to select a person who will be fully equal to the great responsibilities that the managership of a large growing city like Limerick will put upon his shoulders. I am sure there are men to be had in the country who have the knowledge and experience as well as fitness in other respects — in character and otherwise — for this responsible post. While I have given some thought to the question of the amount of salary to be paid, I have not fully made up my mind on it. I would say clearly to the House and to Deputy Mulcahy that my desire certainly is not to be mean with regard to salary in this matter, or with regard to salaries in other matters where officials generally, in the Government service or in the service of local authorities are concerned. I would like to see a salary fixed for the post that would attract the right type of man.
There is, I suggest, no comparison between the amount of work to be done by the manager of a city like Limerick with its population, and the work to be done by, say, the City Manager in cities like Cork and Dublin. There is a very considerable difference in the amount of work and responsibility, and naturally some consideration has to be given to the question of the remuneration in the light of the comparison that might be made. At any rate, I would like to see a salary fixed that would attract what I would regard as the right type of man, because if we do not get the right type of man for Limerick or any other city — I am told that there are other cities thinking now much on the same lines as the Limerick Corporation have been thinking in the last year or two: they are thinking of changing their system —then the whole city managership system would collapse. The success of it depends on getting the right type of person. Therefore I would like to see a man selected who would rise to his responsibilities. I certainly will give very serious consideration, indeed, to the question of salary, because I know that on that will depend the future successful working of the managership system in Limerick and elsewhere.
