Local Government Act, 1994

PART IV

Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach

Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach.

25.—(1) There shall be a Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach of each local authority elected from amongst the members of the authority.

(2) (a) A local authority shall, subject to paragraph (b), from amongst its members at every annual meeting elect a Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach.

(b) A member of a local authority who is for the time being under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas entitled to sit therein, shall, subject to paragraph (c), while so entitled, be disqualified for being elected or for being a Cathaoirleach or Leas-Chathaoirleach of a local authority.

(c) Paragraph (b) shall have effect for the purposes of the election of a Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach following the local elections referred to in section 20 and thereafter and accordingly an order may not be made under section 3 (1) bringing that paragraph into operation as regards any member of a local authority prior to those elections.

(3) The Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach of—

(a) Dublin City Council and of Cork City Council shall each be known as the Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor as the case may be of that city,

(b) any other city council shall be known as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of that city,

(c) any borough council shall be known as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor of the borough.

(4) Any reference in any other enactment to lord mayor, mayor, chairman, deputy lord mayor, deputy mayor or vice-chairman shall, where the context so requires, be construed as a reference to the Cathaoirleach or Leas-Chathaoirleach, as the case may be.

(5) Anything authorised or required by law to be done by, to or before the Cathaoirleach may be done by, to or before the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the authority.

(6) The Cathaoirleach may, from among the members of the local authority (including the Leas-Chathaoirleach), nominate a member for the purpose of representing the Cathaoirleach at any ceremony or event in that capacity and that member shall be entitled to act in that capacity for such purpose.

(7) Where a casual vacancy occurs in the office of Cathaoirleach of a local authority, the Leas-Chathaoirleach shall assume the responsibilities of the office until the members of the authority elect a Cathaoirleach.