Ms Noelle O'Connor:

When I first got the letter through my door about the citizens' assembly, I had no idea what a citizens’ assembly even was. To be honest, before the first meeting I still was not 100% sure what awaited me. It is an experience I take great pride in having been a part of. It was an opportunity to meet 66 other randomly selected citizens from diverse backgrounds and different walks of life, alongside 12 councillors, to discuss something that would impact Dublin for years to come.

We saw the assembly as an opportunity to have a say in what Irish politics could look like, namely more localised decision making which we felt could only be beneficial. Over the course of six months, we discussed the type of directly-elected mayor most appropriate for Dublin and the local government structures needed to support this new role. At the end of the six-month process, we recommended that responsibility for 15 specific areas, to include housing, homelessness, community healthcare, transport and the environment, should be devolved immediately to the new mayor. It was recommended that six other areas, including policing, water and education, be devolved over time.

As part of the process, we also recommend that a plebiscite take place regarding a directly-elected mayor for Dublin. We felt that much like we had been given the opportunity to debate the pros and cons of a directly-elected mayor and what devolved powers to the mayor's office may look like, other Dublin citizens should also have their say.

In conclusion, collaborating with an assembly of 79 other individuals, we seized the opportunity to shape the future of Dublin's political landscape through localised decision making. Our six-month dialogue came together in a set of recommendations, advocating for a directly-elected mayor with specific devolved responsibilities. We not only discussed the details, but also championed the democratic process by recommending a plebiscite, ensuring that the voice of every Dublin citizen could be heard in shaping the city's governance.