Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Quinlivan.

I wish to note on the record the very constructive way in which the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, has engaged with members of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government on the broader issues of local government reform as well as on the Local Government Bill with which the House dealt yesterday. In light of that engagement by the Minister, it is important that members on this side of the House engage in the same constructive spirit. For decades, Members of the Opposition have demanded reform of local government, but when they get into power they do not do anything about it. We would be far better served by having a genuine and constructive debate on what can be done in the short to medium term and then acting on it. If there are good Government proposals which reflect some of the views of the Opposition, let us get the ball rolling on them. All Members accept that our local government system gives too little power to elected members and too much power to chief executives and managers. Many of them are public servants of outstanding quality and ability and serve their communities well but, nonetheless, they are unelected. On that basis, I wish to put forward some reflections of my views and those of my party colleagues. Deputy Quinlivan will do likewise.

There is no straight answer to the question of whether one supports the idea of a directly elected mayor because it very much depends on what powers will be vested in that office. I welcome the personal views of the Minister of State that there should be a shift of executive functions to a directly elected mayor if such a post is created. I too believe a plebiscite is the right way to go because it would give the office popular democratic legitimacy, as well as generating debate among the public on the matter, which is good for democracy.

I am concerned that we are discussing elections and plebiscites before discussing the powers which directly elected mayors would have. We must address that matter quickly. The Government proposals in that regard should be put into the public arena well in advance of any plebiscite in order that we can decide whether or not we support the propositions. I oppose any reduction in the reserved functions of elected members and, therefore, welcome the indication of the Minister of State that those functions would remain as they are. There should be consideration of functions being devolved downwards from some State agencies or, possibly, Departments because that would further enhance the role of directly elected mayors.

I am disappointed that Dublin is not being included in the broader discussion. However, I acknowledge that a process initiated by a predecessor of the Minister of State fell foul of Fingal county councillors, including some Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors, who blocked the possibility of a plebiscite for a directly elected mayor in Dublin. The issue is more complicated in Dublin because there are four local authorities. I was a member of South Dublin County Council and am aware of concerns that a directly elected mayor would be city centric and that there would be a return to some of the difficulties encountered in the days of Dublin Corporation. There was also a genuine concern, including with my local authority in south Dublin, regarding powers being devolved upwards to a directly elected mayor from the local authorities. Sinn Féin would not support such a move.

It would be best to identify a small number of strategic important functions that would be vested in the office of a directly elected mayor. I agree with the Minister of State that planning should not be one of those functions, although that could be considered at a later stage when the system is embedded. However, given where we have come from in terms of planning corruption and the improper relationship between some politicians and some planning decisions, it would be far better to begin with directly elected mayors having responsibility for issues such as strategic development plans and transport. If we design an office that has clear executive functions and start with a number of clearly defined issues on which a directly elected mayor would add value, it will win public confidence and demonstrate the office works. One could then have a process of rolling devolution of other powers at further stages. That would be a sensible way to go about it.

Sinn Féin supported the creation of the office of a directly elected mayor for Dublin, subject to its being granted the right kind of powers. However, our preference is for a different system than may exist in Limerick, Cork or Waterford, for example, if the people of those cities and counties agree to such a proposition because Dublin requires a mayor who does not have the functions of the individual chief executives of the four local authorities but, rather, strategic functions overarching those. For example, rather than being responsible for planning decisions, the directly elected mayor should be tasked with deciding on planning issues of very strategic importance such that one does not have the kind of practice whereby one local authority decides to gazump a commercial centre in the neighbouring local authority by developing a very large retail shopping centre, as happened some years ago on the border between Fingal and south Dublin. If some of those larger strategic functions were vested in a directly elected mayor for Dublin, it could be very positive.

We must also think carefully about how such an office would interact with the existing structures of local government, including local councillors, strategic policy committees and other bodies, whether in the cities for a directly elected mayor is currently proposed, in Dublin or elsewhere. That would not be straightforward and should form part of the discussion.

It is welcome that we are having this debate in public. The housing committee would be a good forum for us to have less rhetorical and more evidence-based and cordial discussions as to what is required. The committee would be happy to facilitate the attendance of any Oireachtas Member with an interest in this matter.

I wish to acknowledge a comment the Minister of State made to the housing committee on several occasions. He pointed out that we have been so focussed on the housing crisis that we have not given local government enough space and he is correct in that regard. The committee must take its responsibility in regard to local government more seriously and create more space for those discussions. Some of these legislative proposals will give us an opportunity to do so. Sinn Féin is committed to working constructively with the Minister of State on this issue.

We want to see more powers devolved to elected politicians. We would like to see the public given the opportunity to decide on directly elected mayors. If the Minister of State is willing to continue to work with us as he has done so far, he will find that, even where we have differences, we will be very willing partners in the process to ensure the kind of government we provide for citizens at local government level is enhanced in their interest and the interest of the wider community.

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