Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As has been discussed, if there was that person, they could champion things. I know from my experience, however limited that is, and knowing the power Ministers do or do not necessarily have, that, for example, with housing or transport, a mayor could sit in with the Department or the NTA. I have found that the NTA is a closed shop. Stuff was passed by the regional assembly and there was pushback; I do not really want to go into that. They would have the power just to be sitting at the table and discussing that this is what the people want and pushing it forward with their team especially if there is funding, power or oomph to move things forward. I think it is important to be able to sit at some of these tables where the real power is.