Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will raise one issue today which is the report of the Dublin Citizens' Assembly dated December 2022. We are now in December 2023. The Government tasked the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the report and consider various matters, which we did. The terms of reference were established and set. We have more or less completed that work. The joint committee will meet today and there is an expectation that the Government will have a report next week. The Government will certainly be making decisions at some point very soon, perhaps in the new year.

There were 18 recommendations in this report by the citizens' assembly. Senators will recall we had great debate about the number of city councillors and county councillors in the Dublin area that would be on it but the proposal from this House was not successful. However the citizens' assembly made its report. Within the 18 recommendations, the final recommendation calls for a plebiscite. I want to put on the Official Report in this House that I will fully support that the people of Dublin city and county, the four local authorities, have a plebiscite. I believe in it myself, fundamentally. I do not speak on behalf of the committee. I speak on behalf of myself and as someone who champions the cause of city and county councillors. I also live within the county. We should keep it under review.

I suggest to the Deputy Leader that we have this item, rather than the report, on the agenda in the new year. At that point, there may be further information, reports and recommendations but it is important we keep a live observation of what is going on. Decisions will be made soon and we know there will be local elections next year but it is an important piece. I thank the citizens' assembly and the chair for the work they have done on what is a very fine report. There is no point in setting up assemblies, engagements and independent groups to review things if we do not listen to them. There are 18 recommendations and I am very supportive of all of them.