Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE NEW LORD Mayor of Dublin’s relishing his time in office. Oisín Quinn’s facing a slightly truncated term at the Mansion House: 50 weeks as opposed to the usual 52, as the local elections are due to be held next May – and the Labour councillor was light-heartedly bemoaning that fact when TheJournal.ie called in for an interview during the week.
Considering the largely ceremonial nature of the role, Quinn says he is determined to achieve something significant in the job. On his lengthy to-do list are ways to improve the transport system for Dubliners, plans to introduce a levy for developers who hoard prime city sites, and the small matter of helping decide how a mayorship with wider-ranging powers should be set-up.
On site levies…
Quinn is hoping to persuade the Government to tax developers who hold on to prime sites in the hope that their value will rise, instead of developing the land. As part of the plans, developers would be given the chance to get a break from any new levies if they allowed the space to be used for a pop-up park or other civic-minded project…
And what are the chances of this actually happening?
On plans for an elected mayor…
A directly-elected mayor needs to be a priority for Dublin if the city wants to compete with other similarly-sized cities across Europe, according to Quinn. Dubliners are set to vote on the issue next summer, and proposals are currently being put together on how a position with executive powers would work. Quinn says Local Government Minister Phil Hogan has been “open and enthusiastic” on the issue…
On Transport Minister Leo Varadkar…
The two men had a breakfast meeting during the week. Quinn says transport is a huge issue for the city, and that the Fine Gael minister is “full of fresh energy and ideas”…
On dynasties in Irish politics…
Quinn is a nephew of Education Minister Ruairí Quinn…
On family life in the Mansion House…
Dublin’s ‘first family’ will be part-time occupants of the Dawson Street residence, Quinn says….
(All videos Daragh Brophy/TheJournal.ie – Editing by Nicky Ryan)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I’d rather just read what he has to say,none of those video clips for me!
I second that, Mark.
Hogan “open and enthusiastic”? Sweet Jesus. There is no hope.
Varadcar- young with fresh new ideas……BS arse licking FG wannabe.
Quinn
“….hoping to persuade the Government to tax developers who hold on to prime sites in the hope that their value will rise, instead of developing the land.”
One would hope this wouldn’t be too difficult given everything that has happened in the last decade….but we still invite TDs, supposedly representing the interests of the majority (who are not, nor can be, property speculators & rentiers) to get their snouts deep into the trough of land speculation & renting.
The idea that the ‘property’ tax should be aimed principally to discourage hoarding unused land was lobbied hard at government. But that was ignored & instead it became more akin to a ‘poll’ tax. Why was that? Has the opinion of property speculation etc. changed one iota among Dail senior benches of any flavour? I’d say not….still representing their personal wealth interests, not ours.
Anyhow, Mayor Quinn is to be applauded for making this a prominent policy proposal.
Great to see new names getting involved in politics….ohhh wait Quinn??? Where have we heard that name??
What’s the salary for the
” largely ceremonial position”??
So if there is an elected mayor of Dublin who will have wide ranging powers Will that mean there won’t be any need for any Co-councilors in Dublin as isn’t it their brief to take care of all things Dublin related?? Would be a great saving to the tax payer if so. We could easily have Dublin Lord mayor on same scale of remuneration as London Lord mayor.
The Lord Mayor of London and the Mayor of London are not the same Person
why does dublin have a lord mayor and not a mayor,we’re not a monarchy
U people in dublin so lucky u will be getting 50 more councilors next time out. he thinks they need an elected mayor. what a wast of taxpayers money. these lot are worse than the crowd b4 then. getting very hard to know who to vote for next time out.
Despite what you think this country still belings to Brittan and the monarchy
Does the Quinn family also own half of mount street or something?
There is legislation on the books for derelict property, but the City Council don’t use it.
I would be keener to hear him answer questions like
Why was Eamon Gilmore’s wife given “without the post being advertised” a cushy job in your uncle’s department of Education – Ruairi Quinn. 92k per year job that was not advertised……. Family politics at its best. I know it is not him – but if we are to have the same families running the place they should answer the questions
This kind of shite you expected of Fianna Fáil, but Labour are As bad if not worse.
Unless hes a member of the house of lords, drop this ridiculous lord tag, paying a city Mayor a massive salery just to dress up in fancy robes is a relic of the old British Empire and has no place in a modern republic, the sooner we have directly elected mayors with responsibilities for the proper running the towns and cities the better.
Well said….
He wouldn’t propose penalties for those on DCC voting in favour of changes to planning restrictions positively affecting their (undeclared) business interests though, would he? Funny, that…
Leo has an opinion on everything!
A lot of people have opinions on lots of topics.
And he is Minister for Transport and they talked about – surprise, surprise – transport in Dublin. Would be interested to hear your own opinions on transport in Dublin, but sure populist, bland statements get the green thumbs more than thoughtful posts on this site.
The old family firm of politics is rumbling along nicely. Part of the problem with politics in Ireland family franchises.
So true
Time for Dublin to scrape the unelected LORD mayor
Sounds sore
An elected Mayor, every 4 years and to manage the city. Get rid of Councillors, waste of time and scarce money!
If you buy land in Perth in Australia you have 2 years to build or sell it or you face penaltys, they should do the same here
Jesus! The more I read this site the more its apparent that the owners of thejournal.ie are up the arse of the Labour Party! Bollox!
How did your comment not get caught im the offensive language trap lol
Sounds good
Enjoy the year … Won’t be getting elected anytime soon under a labour banner … Although the funny thing about Irish politics … if you dread the thought of some thing happening it usually does
Another Genius. Still in the Labour Party though… Perhaps not so smart.
Legislation is already there, derelict sites act. Act on it.
Like the idea of fining developers who just buy the sites cheap and then leave them hoping the prices goes sky high its the same near me a ghost housing estate bought nearly a year ago and still nothing happening its a disgrace they are allowed to do it.
He broke 4 rules of ethics and still gets elected Lord Mayor. Corrupt to his core. I bet he or his family will buy up the properties as his dad is one of the wealthiest in Ireland.
The last Labour mayor of Dublin.
nice cushy number for a year and what will he achieve nothing…….just another excuse to get another family member into the business
have your say