Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise a separate matter, the ruling out of order of amendments Nos. 12, 13 and 16 in my name. The Ceann Comhairle says they have the potential to impose a charge on the Exchequer. The people of the four local authorities in Dublin are crying out for an elected mayor or leader who will be held accountable and responsible for grotesque failures in housing policy, traffic management, planning and in a plethora of other areas. Dublin city, Fingal, south Dublin and Dún Laoghaire - my native county - desperately need an elected person to lead the county and this great capital city. As the Fianna Fáil Government did previously, this Fine Gael Government has refused to countenance the idea of consulting the people of Dublin about having their own elected administration. We desperately need one. We are sick of bureaucrats not delivering. That is what these amendments propose. I cannot see how a simple consultation has the potential to impose a charge. I apologise to my Galway colleagues as I realise their issue is critical but I also wish to record that as a Dublin Deputy, I am most unhappy that the Government has repeatedly refused to do this.

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