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DUBLIN’S NEWLY-ELECTED Lord Mayor says a mayor with real executive powers is needed in order to help Dublin compete with other European cities of a similar size.
Labour’s Oisín Quinn – who was elected to the Mansion House last month – is tonight chairing the first meeting of the body set-up to explore options for the the future of the mayorship.
The working group – comprised of the mayors of the four Dublin local authorities and four elected members of each council – will examine various proposals over a series of meetings, before compiling its final report.
It’s planned proposals for a directly-elected CEO of the city will be put to the people of Dublin in a vote to take place in May of next year – coinciding with the local and European elections.
Councillor Quinn says he’s encouraged by research carried out by Dublin City Council, which shows 61 per cent of people would be favour of an enhanced role for the mayor. Just 14 per cent of the 1,200 people surveyed said they would be against the changes, with the majority of those citing cost as the main concern.
The Lord Mayor has been speaking to TheJournal.ie about the upcoming process, and says the working group will look at international examples from cities like New York, London and Dallas:
The working group is set to hold three more meetings after tonight, and will present their preferred proposals to Minister for Local Government Phil Hogan at the end of the year. A period of public consultation will take place in the autumn, to include a ‘town hall’ style meeting at the Mansion House in October.
Quinn says everyone who is registered to vote in the local elections will be entitled to have their say in next year’s ballot – and that it’s likely Dubliners will be given a ‘yes or no’ option on whether they support the proposals, once they are agreed by Government.
If all that goes to plan – any actual vote on who will fill the newly-created role is unlikely to happen before 2019, Quinn says, as it will take some time to devolve the necessary budgetary powers from government departments and various other state agencies.
And, according to the Lord Mayor, Minister Phil Hogan is ‘open and optimistic’ on the prospect of an enhanced mayoral role:
Asked whether he would consider throwing his hat into the ring for the contest – if and when it takes place – Quinn said he felt it was “too soon” for him to think about it.
(Camera and editing by Michelle Hennessy)
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Ah yes, we need a mayor with real powers. But in the meantime, sure let’s pay for a mayor (and the support staff and all the expenses that go with the role) with imaginary powers.
Actually think this was one meaningful reform Phil Hogan could’ve pulled off quite easily; currently the City is run by an un-elected, overpaid & unaccountable City Manager.
A real pity they’re basically shelving it (unless I’m reading between the lines wrong here)
So you want an elected unqualified to do the job politician? Sure why not Aren’t all our elected representatives doing such a great job.
Shelving it? It says quite clearly in the article that they are planning on holding a referendum next year on the matter, which Dubliners can vote on.
Why?another drain on the country’s finances is all it will be
Woe is me indeed Nelly.
The city manager has all the power, just give him the job.
We are already paying them.
Remove the city manager, elect a mayor that takes over that role and has the power to do things without interruption from government on the same money. Saves at least one senior public servant’s salary. Make it an annual position so they’re answerable to us. There’s no reason this should take longer than a couple of months to push through seeing as the dail can push legislation when it wants.
For “working group” read another quango talk shop for the political boys and girls ?!?!?
A Mayor with real powers ! I can see the blockbuster “Super Mayor” hitting the big screen with the cast of Fair City as extras. Epic box office hit…
Ha! Like house of cards. But without a story line of any substance. Just goes around with the chain, collecting money in his chauffeur driven car. Breaking thumbs and betting on sports. (I’d watch that actually)
Another useless scrot.
Ridiculous. … won’t be until 2019??…..a small City in a small County can be that difficult to sort? ….. sound like a lot of the usual manure from this countries political classes
They could start by getting rid of those stupid chains around their necks…..also drop the royal – why do we have a lord or royal mayor in a republic…..Mr.Mayor will do just grand
I think the chains of office are quite a nice symbol. No need to get rid of things just because they were invented by the Brits.
Doppelgänger for Saul Goodman, deffo!
Haha yes!!
Need one who isn’t a member of a cycling fraternity
This guy could be the last labour mayor.
All the better. The farther right the better. Might clean up the place. Right wing environmentalist. That would be a decent mix. Labour party’s in its death throws anyway. Socialist policies don’t work long term.
Put on superman underpants thats the closest youll get to getting powers here.
Just give big phil hogan the job and let him get more taxes out of the downtrodden dubs !
The fact that a directly elected mayor for Dublin wont even be concidered before 2019 and could be much later,tells you all you need to know with regard to devolved powers to local authority’s in in this country,the elected power hungery politicians wont want to let go, if only for the reason that with the loss of power, just what do we need them for in the Dail.
The reason it would not be till 2019 is because the plebiscite in the four Dublin counties would be next year on the same day as the election of the local councillors to four different councils. If the people voted yes, then the next time that an election is scheduled is 2019. Naturally a mayor could be elected at a special election, but how would that person relate to the four councils which are all legally distinct with separate rules. Who would watch the mayor essentially. Merging the four councils immediately would not make sense from a fairness point of view as the proportions of population to Cllr in each county is different and the difference between Dublin City and the other three would be extremely unfair, so it would have to wait until there was an election to elect a Mayor and a single council to watch over him/her
Regressive Ireland shock horror
Don’t like the way this is pitched at all. words like CEO make it sound as if Dublin is something of a corporation, and we know what happens to them. bad idea.
Vote # 1. Quimby for Mayor.
Would like to see what powers will be devolved and what area this will cover. Will this just be for the city or will the suburbs be included also? Might finally get a decent bus system in place.
I think we need more committees,something’s not working.but the deadlines October 2014 we’ll never make it.yes we will damn it or I’m not a labour mayor,you mark my words many ,many small plastic hallway signs will be replaced,it will be glorious.i promise.
How about…we don’t need a major at all? Doesn’t the city manager hold the “power”?
Another gravy train role that more than likely the tax payer is paying for! I’d say the majority of the people on the street would not be able to name the current major of Dublin and/or how he/she is put in office.
The reason they’re not able to name them is precisely because they have no powers. People in London or New York know exactly who their mayor is. This won’t just be a gravy train position because the managers will be abolished and the mayor will actually run the city. There is no point in having elected local authorities if all of the power lies with an unelected official.
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