Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The debate on a directly elected mayor of Dublin has been rumbling for quite some time. The position of a directly elected mayor was legislated for as far back as 2001. The people of Dublin are still waiting to be given an opportunity to vote on whether they would like to be governed by a directly elected mayor, as the 2001 legislation was repealed shortly thereafter.

In 2014, Fingal County Council voted to reject the holding of a plebiscite on a directly elected mayor. This vote put a halt to the proposals to introduce a directly elected mayor for Dublin. Many county councillors in Fingal cited the lack of detail and a rushed plan as reasons for their objections, while others were opposed to the role altogether and said the plan was antidemocratic and open to corruption. I hope the lack of detail will not be repeated when we move on this matter.

As the Bill does not outline the role and responsibilities of an elected mayor, we have to use this opportunity to review the plans to ensure that Dublin introduces the best and most appropriate model that will have the greatest potential to reap the most reward, rather than simply introducing another layer of bureaucracy and adding to an already cumbersome local government system in Dublin.

The primary arguments in favour of a directly elected mayor are clear political leadership, accountability and enhanced visibility, which we do not have with city and county managers. I was a councillor and understand that things have become worse in Tipperary. We have to be elected and be accountable, but managers are not accountable. Strong mayors can provide strategic direction and ensure the execution of decisions made by local authorities, while also playing a strong role in representing the authority to the outside world.

Reforms in 2014 were bulldozed through by big Phil the enforcer, a former Minister. He bulldozed Tipperary together and did not care what happened. He left a trail of disaster after him. Why did he not address Dublin at that time? He addressed Limerick, Waterford and Cork. At that time, Fine Gael had a large majority, and thought it could do what it liked and did so but the people sorted it out after that.

I compliment those who proposed the Bill. I am a democrat and the people should have the ultimate role in voting. As I said, we could consider the British model. I do not agree with a lot of what the British did, but it divided Tipperary which was a wise decision because it is too long and cumbersome to be handled by one authority. The county was bulldozed together by the man I have mentioned, who has now gone to greener pastures - he is lucky he went before the election because he would be in no pasture but rather out in the long grass for a long time.

I suggest that we look further afield at successful cities such as Brisbane and Auckland. They are under the clear political control of an elected executive mayor to whom the chief executive officer and senior management report. The mayors are responsible for developing and implementing policies, leading the business of the councils, preparing the budgets which are adopted by the councils and ensuring that the councils are active in the commercial development of their respective regions. That is vital.

We have a housing crisis with which our managers cannot seem to grapple. Every local authority could build houses in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, but we cannot build a henhouse now. There are reports and funding announced for houses, but no worthwhile houses are being built. Only 30 houses were built in Tipperary, and the same applies to Kerry and other areas. We have talks, reports, reforms and a plethora of agencies, yet nothing is happening. We need a directly elected mayor and accountability above all.

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