Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I note the attempts by both Opposition parties to belittle the proposed office despite it having powers to form strategies, plans and implement them.

I accept the mayor will not have the power to move a bus stop. However, I do not want one who just moves bus stops or moves double-yellow lines in Clontarf. I want one who thinks about the important issues for the city and puts in place an effective transport policy for it. That is what is important to me as a Dubliner. I want a mayor who is not dealing with problems with water pressure in Coolock but one who will deal with the issue of whether the city's future water supplies should be obtained from the rivers Shannon or Barrow.

A Member earlier questioned if there will be enough traffic wardens in Dublin. This legislation is about managing the traffic wardens from Balbriggan to Bray to ensure a coherence and value for money that is strongly lacking in the current set-up with four different local authorities. While in theory they co-ordinate their actions, in practice the good citizens of Dublin are left scratching their heads wondering who is in charge. A strong voice must be provided, one which will be there for the long haul.

If one does not like what the mayor does, one can still kick him or her out by using one's vote. It should be remembered that no one can do that under the current system. There are county managers in place for seven years and county and city councillors who are in and out of office in a short time. The way out of the current system of too much red tape is to have a mayor who will provide a single voice which will reflect all the many great aspects of Dublin city.

The legislation allows for a mayor to co-ordinate water, waste, transport and planning policies. Time and again, this House returns to the legacy of bad planning decisions across the country. The people of Dublin are still picking up the tab for mad rezoning decisions that took place in Dublin Corporation offices in the 1980s. Councillors were allowed rezone land without any great sense of responsibility and without a mayor who had the bigger picture about what makes a bustling, lively city with a citizenry that buys into its coherent vision. When it comes down to strategy, plans and implementation, the proposed Dublin mayor will have a coherent voice and be there for the long haul.

This legislation marks a step away from the confusion that exists with the current system. With all due respect we have had some decent mayors in Dublin but in many other countries, a city's lifeblood - its economy, cultural life and sense of place - is channelled through its mayor's office. One only has to look at Shirley Clarke Franklin in Atlanta, Martin O'Malley in Baltimore, and Fiorello La Guardia in New York City, all strong dynamic people who made things happen. I can easily recall the last four mayors of New York City – Ed Koch, David Dinkins, Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani who made their city tick and work.

The same kind of voice is needed in Dublin. That is why I strongly support this Bill and believe it is an important step in the right direction. We may have to amend it in six years time but the same happened with the mayor's office in London. Initially, it began with a few powers but over the years it gathered more momentum becoming a more effective office.

Dublin needs a directly elected mayor. Such an office will be good for Ireland, the four counties of Dublin and Dublin city.

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