County councillors have called for clarity on the issue of directly elected mayors, a measure due to come into effect at the next local authority elections.
Under the terms of the Local Government 2001 Act, 29 county councils and the five cities are to have direct elections for the position of mayor for a five-year term from 2004.
But councillors are concerned that the public should be aware that "single-issue" mayors will have to deal with a plethora of issues.
"Single-issue candidates might succeed on the basis of the emotive local issue of the day, for example a protest over waste disposal or motorway building," said Cllr John Egan, chairman of the General Council of County Councils.
"People might not realise that the plan is for the directly elected mayor to have a five-year term during which issues well removed from election-day issues are bound to arise."
The Tipperary North councillor said members had been promised "clarity" on the issue after a meeting with Mr Martin Cullen, Minister for the Environment.
Winter bug affects Waterford hospitals
Two hospitals in the South Eastern Health Board region continue to be affected by the so-called winter vomiting virus.
At Waterford Regional Hospital the number of people affected has increased, with an additional four staff now thought to have contracted the virus, bringing the total to 143. Two more patients are also thought to have contracted the virus. The hospital remains closed to visitors.
At St Patrick's Geriatric Hospital in Waterford, a staff member is now showing symptoms of the virus.
To date, two patients have been infected. The hospital is also closed to visitors.