Dublin to have mayoral election this year - Gormley

MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley said it was still his intention that Dublin would have a directly elected mayor this year.

He said the general scheme of the legislation required was published on his department’s website last February as an opportunity for further consultation.

“The Bill is currently being drafted by the parliamentary counsel as a matter of priority.’’

Mr Gormley said he had met with representatives of the Opposition parties in March and briefed them on the mayor’s functions and responsibilities. His department was also engaging with the Dublin local authorities to make the necessary operational preparations for the election.

Fine Gael spokesman Phil Hogan said it would be October before the legislation was published and brought through the Dáil and Seanad.

There would be no mayoral election before the end of that month. It would hardly be held in December, so that left November.

Mr Hogan asked if there had been agreement at Government level to hold the election this year.

Mr Gormley said there was Government agreement because it was set out in the renewed programme for government.

Labour’s Ciaran Lynch said in the absence of a specific date there could be a situation where there was an election campaign under way while the legislation was going through the Dáil.

It was unclear, he added, where the mayor’s powers would come from. They could either come from councillors or managers.

Mr Gormley replied he had met with councillors on a number of occasions, and had said that he saw the powers coming from the managers.

It was up to the political parties to decide when they wanted to campaign, he added. “They can select their candidates and start campaigning now if they wish.

“I do not determine the behaviour of political parties or individual candidates, but I do hope that we will get the best candidates in the field, be they from political parties or independents.’’

He said he looked forward to a stimulating campaign and a good debate about the future of the city.

Mr Gormley said the mayor’s powers would include the capacity to ensure that activities across the Dublin region’s local authorities were consistent with the regional strategic framework.

In addition, he had agreed with the Minister for Transport that the mayor would have a strong role in Dublin transport planning.

The mayor would chair a Greater Dublin Area transport council within the National Transport Authority, responsible for approving and monitoring the implementation of key plans for the capital.

In doing so, said Mr Gormley, the mayor would be well placed to ensure coherence between Dublin’s spatial and transport planning.