Populism no concern for elected Dublin mayor plan
Concerns about the election of populist figures who could exploit the position for personal gain should not deter the Government from proceeding with a vote on a directly elected mayor for Dublin.
That's according to the current Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, who was speaking at a conference on the issue in DCU today.
The session also heard calls for the Government to hold a vote on a directly elected mayor for the capital during its current term of government.
It is more than two years since a Citizens Assembly on a directly elected mayor for Dublin proposed holding a plebiscite on the issue.
An Oireachtas Committee later recommended that such a vote only be held after the Government clarifies the remit and power of the office.
Recent reports suggest that the political ambitions of former MMA fighter Conor McGregor has resulted in a reluctance in Government to progress the issue.
But John Moran, who became the directly elected Mayor of Limerick last June, said that such concern should not stop progress in the capital.
"We had the same issues in Limerick, people said there'd be some celebrity candidates, some populist candidates and what you saw was 15 great candidates. In Limerick there was a strong feeling that the right person was somebody who was independent.
"70% of the votes remaining in the second last count were going to two independent candidates and I think that's natural because the mayor represents everybody in the city."
Bríd Quinn believes there is momentum towards progressing a vote in Dublin on a directly elected mayor
Bríd Quinn, who was an advisor to the Citizens Assembly on a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin, said that she believes there is now momentum about progressing a vote in the capital on the issue and the Government should move to ensure that Ireland catches up with other European countries.
"So many of the things that local government would like to do are restricted by national demands or national standards or national requirements, so there had been that gap.
"Dublin has such an influence on what happens in Ireland and so much of the economic activity happens here in Dublin that its important the government structure in Dublin work to the best effect."
The Programme for Government commits to considering further plebiscites in Dublin and other cities on the issue of a directly elected mayor.
Asked if there were any timelines or work under way, the Department of Local Government would only say that the recommendations on a mayor for the capital are under consideration.
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