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Amendment of Schedule 10 (meetings and proceedings of local authorities) to Principal Act
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57. Schedule 10 to the Principal Act is amended—
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(a) in paragraph 3 by substituting the following for subparagraphs (1) and (2):
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“(1) In every year in which a local election is held, the annual meeting of a local authority shall be held on the fourteenth day after the polling day or, where the poll is for any reason countermanded, interrupted or adjourned, after the day on which the poll is completed or the fresh poll is held.
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(2) Where the fourteenth day referred to in subparagraph (1) is an excluded day, the meeting shall be held on the next following day which is not an excluded day.”,
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(b) in paragraph 4 by substituting the following for subparagraph (4):
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“(4) In the case of the annual meeting of a local authority in an election year the business to be transacted shall, subject to this paragraph, include—
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(a) the consideration of the election, appointment or nomination of members of joint bodies or other bodies elected, appointed or nominated by such local authority, and
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(b) fixing the day or days for the first meetings of the municipal district members for each of the municipal districts within the functional area of the local authority, so long as the day or days so fixed shall not be later than 10 days after that annual meeting of the local authority and not be an excluded day.”,
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(c) by substituting the following for paragraph 5:
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“5. A local authority shall hold its budget meeting in accordance with section 103 within the period directed by the Minister for the purposes of that section.”,
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(d) in paragraph 13 by inserting the following after subparagraph (3):
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“(4) Where at a meeting—
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(a) it has been resolved in accordance with subparagraph (1) that a member leave a meeting and the chair adjourns the meeting under subparagraph (3) because the member refuses to leave, and
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(b) it has been resolved by further resolution that the member was the cause of the meeting being so adjourned,
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then any remuneration to, and any allowances for expenses incurred, by that member concerned, as provided for by regulations under section 142, shall be reduced for the period of 12 months (irrespective of whether or not a local election is to be held during that period) from the date of the meeting concerned as follows:
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(i) on the first occasion of it being resolved that the member refused to so leave, 10 per cent;
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(ii) on the next or subsequent occasions of it being so resolved and where paragraph (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) does not apply, 10 per cent;
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(iii) on the next occasion of it being so resolved within 3 months of it being resolved in circumstances to which paragraph (i)or (ii) relates, 30 per cent;
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(iv) on the next occasion of it being so resolved within 3 months of it being resolved in circumstances to which paragraph (iii)relates, 50 per cent;
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(v) on the next occasion of it being so resolved within 3 months of it being resolved in circumstances to which paragraph (iv)relates, 70 per cent;
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(vi) on the next occasion of it being so resolved within 3 months of it being resolved in circumstances to which paragraph (v)relates, 90 per cent.
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(5) (a) Where at a meeting—
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(i) the resolutions referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of subparagraph (4) have been resolved, and
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(ii) where, following the chair expressing the further opinion that the member has continued to be disorderly by disregarding the ruling of the chair, or by behaving irregularly, improperly or offensively, or by otherwise obstructing the business of the meeting and the chair has conveyed such further opinion to the members present by naming the member concerned, it has been resolved further by at least two-thirds of those present and voting, on a motion moved by the chair or any member (which motion, if seconded, shall have been put and determined without discussion) that for a specified period ‘the member stand suspended with immediate effect from all meetings of the local authority and any committee of the local authority, and all meetings of municipal district members’ and the period so specified is, subject to clause (c), for at least one month but does not exceed 3 months,
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then the consequences provided for by subparagraph (4) shall not apply to the member concerned in relation to that suspension except and to the extent provided for by clause (g)in respect of any other suspension.
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(b) Having regard to clause (f), the members of the local authority may, at any subsequent meeting during the period specified in the resolution under clause (a) (ii), pass a further resolution lifting the suspension, and the suspension shall be lifted with immediate effect.
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(c) If, within a period of 3 months following the ending of a suspension in accordance with clause (a) or (b), further resolutions to which clause (a) relates are proposed to be adopted in respect of that member, then the period provided for in a resolution under clause (a) (ii) shall be at least 3 months but shall not exceed 6 months.
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(d) Having regard to clause (f), a suspension under this subparagraph shall cease to have effect on the ordinary day of retirement.
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(e) Where a resolution under clause (a) suspending a member has been passed, the member concerned shall not be entitled to attend, speak at or take any part in any meetings of the local authority and any committee of the local authority, and any meetings of municipal district members, and notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7, shall not be entitled to present a request to the Cathaoirleach to require a special meeting of the local authority to be convened and shall not be entitled to receive any services in respect of meetings of the local authority or any committee of the local authority, or meetings of municipal district members, including the agenda and papers circulated to members, for the period specified in the resolution while it remains in force.
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(f) No remuneration to, or allowances for expenses incurred, by the member concerned, as provided by regulations under section 142, shall be paid (irrespective of whether a local election is to be held during the period concerned) for the duration of the suspension to which clause (a) or (c) relates. Notwithstanding any lifting of a suspension in accordance with clause (b), or cessation of a suspension in accordance with clause (d), such lifting or cessation shall not have the effect of reducing the period in respect of which remuneration or allowances for expenses incurred are not to be paid as a consequence of the suspension.
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(g) The suspension of remuneration or allowances for expenses incurred by virtue of clause (f) shall, during the suspension period specified in the resolution under this paragraph, supersede any reduction in remuneration or allowances for expenses that would, but for this clause, be incurred under subparagraph (4) but shall not affect any such reduction after the suspension period so specified.
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(6) The chief executive, following consultation with the Cathaoirleach, may make such provision for the exclusion or, where necessary, the removal from any meeting of the local authority or any committee of the local authority, or meeting of municipal district members, of the member suspended in accordance with subparagraph (1) or (5) as appear necessary to the chief executive.”,
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(e) in paragraph 15 by substituting “chief executive” for “manager”,
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(f) in paragraph 17(1), by substituting “or, subject to any regulations made under section 44(3), a joint committee” for “or a joint committee”, and
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(g) in paragraph 17, by inserting the following after subparagraph (1):
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“(1A) In the application under subparagraph (1) of paragraph 13, nothing shall be read as enabling a committee of a local authority or a joint committee passing a resolution to suspend a person other than from the committee or joint committee itself.”.
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