John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to having a directly elected mayor of Dublin. More than a year ago, the Tánaiste, who was the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government at the time, asked Deputy Eamon Ryan and me to pause our legislation on this matter on the basis that there would be movement on it in September of that year. I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to a plebiscite, which will run in tandem with the local and European elections next May. As the Tánaiste will be aware, Fianna Fáil was the only party to propose the idea of a plebiscite, although other parties support the idea of a directly elected mayor. Will the Tánaiste confirm the plebiscite will be of the people of Dublin only, as opposed to the Dublin region as a whole? Will he also confirm that the plebiscite will deal with the election of one mayor and not four mayors? Will he confirm that a position paper will be published well in advance of the plebiscite to give the people of Dublin ample opportunity for a proper, informed discussion and conversation on the matter?

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