Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I shall not go into the fiasco that we all spent time talking about last week. The issue highlighted, above all else, the need to revisit the proposal of a directly elected official to whom the Dublin city manager would be accountable. Recent issues showcase the urgent need to revisit the proposal for a directly elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. In recent months this proposal was agreed by 75% of Dublin's councillors but was dismissed on a technicality. I call on the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to revisit the proposals once he has had an opportunity to catch his breath. A directly-elected mayor would represent great value for Dublin. It would allow for real transparency and accountability, above all else, for the entire Dublin region, and for the introduction of more cohesive policies across Dublin which is governed by four separate councils. It would also help to improve and further enhance our reputation for business, tourism and transport, and would allow for people who make decisions on matters such as the Garth Brooks concerts, to be held to account.

We live in a world where cities compete directly for resources, investments and tourism so the notion of a super mayor is a necessary one. The need for a mayor of Dublin has been exemplified in a very real way in the past ten days. I ask the Leader to ask the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, when he has an opportunity, to come to the House to debate the issue of a directly-elected mayor for Dublin.