Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This issue, particularly in relation to the directly elected mayor, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. As such, I am not in a position to comment.

On the question of a citizens' assembly, we want to get the citizens' assembly on biodiversity loss over the line first. We have found, through Covid, that it is possible for online resources to be used in public engagement. We have seen that through city and county development plans and various plans and policies. We can be innovative in ensuring that any process, whether it is a citizens' assembly or another mechanism that is used for this really important decision-making, is deployed. A blended approach of in-person meetings and online engagement could be used. We do not know how long more we are going to be living through this pandemic. During the summer, we engaged extensively on the issue of marine protected areas and met communities. That engagement also had an online element to it. It is really important that whatever mechanism is used, whether it is a citizens' assembly, plebiscite or something else, the engagement with local communities and elected members is immersive.

The Deputy made a valid point that elected members across the Dublin region are fantastic and contribute greatly to local democracy and policies and plans in their own areas. Elected members are of huge value whatever the outcome that is delivered by the Minister of State, Deputy Burke. That is critically important. I am sure the Minister of State will lead on this issue, as he has done with regard to the directly elected mayor for Limerick. He acted fast and very comprehensively on the issue. As someone who served for 16 years on a local authority, I value the role of the elected members in local democracy and decision-making. I take the Deputy's point on board fully.