John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Deputy Creighton for raising this important issue for the people of Dublin. On 12 May, I announced that the Government had decided to introduce a directly elected mayor for the Dublin region in 2010. This decision arises from a commitment in the programme for Government and from the considerations in the Green Paper on local government that I published in April 2008. A central theme of the Green Paper on local government is the need for a renewal of local democratic leadership. The Government's decision to introduce a directly elected mayor will deliver significantly strengthened leadership for the city and region, with enhanced accountability and a direct connection with the citizen.

My Department is drafting the necessary legislation and it is my intention that the mayor will be equipped with a suite of substantial powers across the functions of local government and will have the authority and power to deliver real leadership for the city and region. It is my intention that the mayor will primarily act as a strategic policy maker who will also work to integrate the activities of local government and the wider public service in and across Dublin.

The details of the mayor's responsibilities will be set out in legislation. I envisage that the mayor will have the following roles, namely, setting the framework for the future physical development of Dublin city and region by setting out regional planning guidelines by which local authorities must abide; delivering reliable, sustainable and integrated public transport by leading the Dublin Transport Authority; ensuring the delivery of an environmentally sustainable approach to waste management by proposing and overseeing the implementation of the Dublin region waste management plan; maximising the conservation and efficient use of water resources and the safe treatment of waste water through proposing and overseeing the implementation of the Dublin regional water services plan; promoting a dynamic, enterprising city region renowned for its rich culture and heritage by bringing all key public and private sectors together in a new regional development board; promoting quality housing and sustainable communities; and promoting the protection and enhancement of Dublin's environment. The mayor will primarily be responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of operational implementation. Operational matters including budgets will largely continue to be a responsibility of the Dublin local authorities, subject to close co-operation with the mayor and his or her office.

The Government's decision on the Dublin mayor marks the first phase of the transformation of local government in accordance with the programme for Government. The White Paper that I propose to publish will address a broad suite of local government development and financing matters and will be published following, inter alia, Government consideration of local government financing in light of the report of the Commission on Taxation. It will include the more detailed approach in respect of the mayor, which will be underpinned by the legislation currently in preparation. Given my intention to hold mayoral elections next year, it will be necessary to have the relevant legislation in place well in advance. To these ends, I will bring my legislative proposals to the Government in the coming weeks.

To answer one of the Deputy's questions, where the mayor lives does not matter. I lived in the Mansion House while I was Lord Mayor and Ken Livingstone lived at home. The point is to have a mayor who is not just symbolic, but who has real power.

Future elections will take place in tandem with local elections. For this reason, I would like the first term of the new mayor, whoever he or she may be, to be for four years and thereafter for five years. This is the best way to do it and is the reason I needed to introduce the legislation. The mayor's role will evolve as it did in London, where it has proven to be a significant success.

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