Government ‘clearly doesn't trust Dubliners' as vote stalls on directly elected mayor
Green Party councillor Oisín O'Connor is calling for Dublin TDs to 'step up to the mark' and give Dubliners the chance to have a 'greater say' in how the city is run.
'The Government needs to put the question to a public vote,' he said.
'It should be up to the people of Dublin to decide if we want to have a more direct input on the future of our city by directly electing a Mayor of Dublin.
'Government ministers from across Ireland don't trust us, Dubliners, to make decisions about our own city.
'They're trying to distract us with sensationalist sound bites about how irresponsible Dublin voters could be if given the chance to directly elect a mayor with real powers and resources to improve our city.
'Are Dublin TDs of government parties going to stay quiet while their party leaders hold back our capital city for fear of a Dublin Mayor showing them up?' he added.
Cllr O'Connor referenced the Citizen's Assembly, chaired by former Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin, which recommended a directly elected Lord Mayor who would be accountable, with mechanisms for removal if necessary.
'This is not just about the position of the Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin - this is about reforming local government across our capital city to bring decisions closer to the people,' Cllr O'Connor said.
'The Dublin Citizens Assembly published its report two and a half years ago, making 18 recommendations on how the government should roll out a Directly Elected Mayor and broader local government reform, giving more power to councillors and the new Mayor on housing, childcare, infrastructure and transport.'
The Green Party is calling on the government to bring forward plans without delay, and publish the details of what powers they propose the Directly Elected Mayor would take charge of.
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They are asking for a wide information campaign about the proposed changes and demanding a date be set for Dubliners to vote on a directly elected Lord Mayor.
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman TD highlighted that the 2025 Programme for Government has less focus on Directly Elected Mayors than the 2020 programme negotiated by the Green Party.
'It's clear the sounds from government are that they're no longer truly committed to devolving power to local government in this country, rolling back on a commitment given by the previous government to give all local authorities the option to introduce a Directly Elected Mayor for their area,' he said.
Catherine Stocker, a Social Democrats councillor, is also advocating for a directly elected Lord Mayor of Dublin with real powers to address the city's challenges in housing, transport, climate, healthcare, and more.
She's bringing a motion to Dublin City Council, urging the government to act on the recommendations of a 2022 Citizens' Assembly.
Cllr Stocker argues that current local government structures are 'too limited' and Dublin needs a strong, accountable leader who can create and implement a vision for the city, like mayors in London or Paris.
A spokesperson for The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said: 'The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a Local Democracy Taskforce to finalise a programme for the reform and strengthening of local government.
'The membership of the Taskforce will include Local Authority elected member representative bodies, Local Authority executive representatives, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and a number of independent experts.
'The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce are currently under development in the Department and these will have due regard to the commitments in the Programme for Government.
'Following further consideration and input from key stakeholders, they will be brought to Government for approval, and the first meeting of the Taskforce will take place as soon as possible afterwards.
'The 2022 Dublin Citizens' Assembly was asked to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. Its final report was presented to the then Taoiseach in January 2023.
'In June 2023, the Houses of the Oireachtas referred the report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for consideration of its recommendations and the Committee reported back in December 2023.
'The Citizens' Assembly Report proposed the holding of a plebiscite on the question of a Dublin Mayor.
'While supporting such an approach, the Committee's Report recommended that a plebiscite be held only after a General Scheme of a Bill for a Dublin Mayor was developed, so that there is full clarity on the detail of the proposal.
'The Programme for Government commits to supporting the office of the Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick and considering further plebiscites in Dublin and other cities.
'The Dublin Citizens' Assembly report and recommendations, and the Committee's Report, are under consideration by the Department,' they added.
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