David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister might explain that one to the House. What is different about the people of Kilkenny? Why is Dublin being singled out? What about Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford? Why are they being treated differently? If this really was a genuinely reforming Bill and the Minister was genuinely interested in improving democracy, as he claims he is, he would be making such a provision rather than going, once again, for the minimalist approach. He has picked out Dublin city only for the holding of a plebiscite and once the people have spoken, it will take up to two years for the Government to take action. It is outrageous.

There will be a Cathaoirleach in some local authorities rather than a mayor, as Senator Diarmuid Wilson pointed out. Perhaps the Minister might answer the question the Senator posed. He has missed a big opportunity to really reform the system. If we go down the road of providing for a directly elected mayor in Dublin, the Minister should, at the very least, give that mayor powers, as is the norm in most European countries. Directly elected mayors in major European cities have real powers and responsibilities. Their role is not simply ceremonial, as is the case with most mayors in this state.

I urge the Minister to be much more ambitious. He is from Kilkenny, a city and a county that is very ambitious-----