At Monday’s meeting of Limerick City Council, Cllr Long added that Dr Ed Walsh and Peter Coyne should present themselves to the council to answer questions about the report.

The report recommends setting up a third development agency (to partner the existing regeneration boards), reviewing the city boundary and building an “iconic structure” to attract tourists and inward investment.

“They use words like ‘dysfunctional’ and talk about a ‘lack of leadership’. I think it’s a very damning document,” said Cllr Long.

He pointed out that although many agencies including the Atlantic Way, UL and Shannon Development were involved in the project, city councillors had not been consulted.

Although he commended the speed that it was produced, he questioned specific aspects of the document.

Cllr Long said that he did not see why a third agency needed to be set up, quipping that the suggested name of ‘Clua’ was appropriate because “they don’t have a clue”.

He also claimed that St Mary’s Park and the docklands is “all they’re interested in” when a separate report was already being drawn up to find the best use for Limerick Docklands.

Cllr John Gilligan agreed with these views, saying that the brief in place to create a “viable working docks” was not mentioned in the report and that collaboration was needed rather than contradiction.

Cllr Diarmuid Scully said that the council was elected by the people to represent them and its input was essential.

“I would be very dubious about the suggestion of setting up a third agency. We have one that runs the city already; the city council. I don’t think we need any more agencies.”

City Manager Tom Mackey urged councillors to look at the report in context—a specific brief that could potentially benefit the city.

“We were asked to put money into the report and it would be remiss for the council not to contribute. I think we could use a briefing session with the authors. It would be a mistake to get hung up on certain elements of it.”

He said the report was not endorsed by the council which does not “accept all of it” but it also had many good points and useful information.

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