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Prioritise Limerick and save DEM from snap Spring Election guillotine

A prominent Limerick figure has said the Government and the main political parties in Dublin must pass the law for a directly elected mayor of Limerick immediately, to ensure a fully democratic contest on 7th June.

Limerick’s John Moran, the former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, said he was disappointed to learn that the legislation had yet again been pushed back last week by the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil-Green coalition.  He urged them instead to prioritise Limerick and help make the country’s first ‘DEM’ a national success story.

“I understand from government sources that the legislation has been further delayed another week at least and may now not be passed by the Senate for several weeks,” Moran said. “This is simply unacceptable.  We have already waited five years and it puts the reform at risk of an early snap election.  It is frustrating for everyone right across the county -- and no doubt humiliating for Minister O’Donnell and the other local Government TDs – but it’s not good enough. What we need instead is for the Government and officials to take control and stop dragging their feet, pass the law, and then step aside and let Limerick people make our decision.”

The Limerick based business leader said the people of the county had made it clear since 2019 that they want to choose who their mayor is for themselves, not to be told who it should be by the political parties: “We are electing someone to the most important position for our county, and for that choice to be democratic the voters must have proper time to engage with and debate and test the candidates.”

Moran added that he will shortly be launching a campaign to encourage as many people in the county as possible to register to vote, and to promote vibrant discussion and debate about the new role and the issues that will face whoever wins the election in the new role.

Separately, Moran confirmed that he is himself seriously considering a run for the new role and would make his final decision in the weeks ahead. He stressed that if he runs, it will be as an independent, with a promise to work tirelessly for Limerick with people from all political parties and none.

“Limerick is the first county in Ireland to have a directly elected executive mayor, and we should seize the opportunity and make the absolute best of it,” he said. “To achieve this our mayor should have Limerick as his or her only priority, and not be constantly thinking about political party matters.” 

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About:

John Moran, 57, lives in Limerick City, grew up in Mungret-Patrickswell and has deep family roots in Athea, West Limerick. He served as Secretary General of the Department of Finance, leading Ireland’s economic recovery and return to markets during the troika years and as board member of the European Investment Bank, the world’s largest multinational policy bank. He has campaigned actively since 2019 for Limerick to have a directly elected mayor. He currently holds a number of business roles, including board member of Shannon Airport Group, Chair of Grid Finance, Director of Mannok, Member of the Advisory board of Takumi Precision Engineering and Chair of the Limerick Tunnel PPP as well as being CEO and Founder of RHH International. He is also known for his voluntary work as Chair of the Hunt Museum and Narrative 4 and for launching the Colbert Quarter plans in Limerick during his time as Chair of the Land Development Agency.

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