Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----but that did have the vast majority of the political parties in the State supporting it. One can have all the parties in the State supporting it but if it is a civil society-led campaign, then it depoliticises the party politics. In our recommendations we need to think about that. Maybe, like the citizens' assembly, we can go outside our terms of reference if we think there is good logic in doing so.

Those issues are important. On paper, most of the political parties in the Oireachtas are in favour of directly elected mayors but that does not necessarily mean a referendum will be won. The timing aspect is important but I do not think that is an argument for delay. It is more about working out the right time to do it. I thank the witnesses for their time.