Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the proposal for a directly-elected mayor for Dublin. While one might ask what interest is it of mine, I am an elected representative from south County Tipperary and am interested both in the concept and its roll-out to other parts of the country. Under this Bill, the mayor will have a range of substantial powers to establish and deliver a vision for Dublin. The mayor's election, from a population base of 1.2 million, will also give him or her a unique mandate in Irish political life to act as leader and advocate for that electorate. Under the new powers, the mayor will develop and oversee policy for the Dublin region in respect of land use planning, housing, waste management and water services. The mayor also will have a strong role in transport and traffic management throughout the region. The legislation will give the mayor the authority and powers to implement the policies the mayor and the revamped Dublin regional authority will lay down. The mayor will also have a role in the annual budgetary process for the Dublin local authorities and will have the power to direct any of the four Dublin councils and their managers in respect of policy issues. I consider this to be a fundamental part of the new Bill. The mayor will also chair a powerful regional development board that will include major public sector, educational and enterprise interests from across the Dublin region. It is vital to bring into sharper focus many of these organisations and to bring them into close proximity to work together in the interests of the public.

The Minister, Deputy Gormley, stated that the mayor of Dublin will enhance local democratic leadership and civic engagement in the Dublin region and I certainly hope so. He also noted the office will raise the profile of Dublin, nationally and internationally, and will assist local government in taking the initiative in Dublin to support local and national economic recovery and to drive and lead local development to hasten this recovery. As Members are aware, this is very badly needed. Dublin's business community has long pressed for the introduction of a directly-elected mayor for precisely these reasons, as such groups represent the public who will pay the wages of both the mayor and all the officials.

The introduction of a mayor will change the role of the city and county managers. Powers such as the control of waste management, which several years ago were taken from councillors and given to the managers, will be returned to the mayor. I am unsure whether that has worked out to the benefit of the public because at least elected representatives are obliged to revert to the electorate on a regular five-year basis as is laid down in law. The mayor will be the head man or woman and this will be a new departure as up until now, the manager was the person who had the power in Irish local government. Anyone in public life, whether in the countryside or in towns and cities, is well aware of this point and it will be important to strike a balance because the manager is often not answerable to the elected representatives.

The mayor will have powers to draw up strategic plans in areas of land use planning, and therefore housing, waste management and water services for implementation at the local level. The Dublin local authorities will be obliged to comply with these plans. I note that when publishing details of this legislation last February, the Minister used the word "obliged". Hopefully that will be the position and there will be no further delays. The mayor will be supported by a more focused 16-member regional authority, reduced from the present number of 30 members. Anyone who has sat on or chaired a county development board - as I did for a year - knows that a board of 30 members or more is completely unworkable, as it has too many members. We have a huge board in the South Tipperary Development Company and it is leading to some difficulties. Five of the 16 member authority will come from Dublin City Council and two each from the other three local authorities. The remaining three seats will be filled ex officio by the Lord Mayor and the Cathaoirligh of the local authorities.

We are told the introduction of the Mayor will not cost the taxpayer a single additional cent. This is an interesting concept but I will believe it when I see it. The introduction of the Dublin Mayor is occurring in concert with efficiency and saving measures being pursued across the local government sector arising from the report of the local government efficiency review group and related initiatives. In Dublin alone, these savings are estimated at €40 million per annum. I wonder where will the Croke Park agreement fit into this arrangement? I question that seriously. Has it been factored in? The Croke Park agreement is an unworkable venture if we are to have any type of change. I do not say this lightly.

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