Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I want to clarify the response the Taoiseach gave to me last week on Leaders' Questions when I asked about directly elected mayors. I was very glad that the Taoiseach seemed to indicate that with regard to Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, he intended to have a plebiscite to introduce the ability of people to vote for mayors. With regard to Dublin, he said he would have to look at the issue because it was complex. Has the Taoiseach decided on the issue of allowing the people of Dublin to have a directly elected mayor? There was a slight caveat when I read the Official Report afterwards. The Taoiseach seemed to indicate he would have the plebiscite in May. I assumed the Taoiseach intended to have the plebiscite this October and we would vote for mayoral candidates in May. Is the Taoiseach considering having a plebiscite in May at the same time we have the local elections? It would be slightly farcical to ask people if they want a different system and at the same time getting them to vote in the old system. Will the Taoiseach confirm what exactly the intended arrangements are?

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