The proposals from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government for a directly elected Mayor are of course a welcome step forward.\u00a0 Despite the fact that they remain just proposals, there is a real need to move the debate forward now beyond the issue of expenses, the Mansion House and all what we might call \u201cthe fripperies\u201d accompanying the present post of Lord Mayor. I have already called for the proposed salary to be at least halved.<\/p>\n
I have campaigned for the creation of this post now for many years. We have recently seen an expression of support for a directly elected \u201cLord Mayor\u201d of Dublin by the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. As he has declared his interest, let me declare mine. I challenge Bertie Ahern and any other contender to debate the issues facing our County. Let us play a part in shaping the legislation as well as seeking to implement it.<\/p>\n
I want to see a Mayor for Dublin and not a Lord Mayor of Dublin.<\/p>\n
There is now a recognition that our current system of Local Government requires renewal and reform. The pity is that the debate did not occur prior to the Local Elections. Let us not make the same mistake again.<\/p>\n
While the detail of any reform is extensive, the essentials are not. If it is to be in any way meaningful reform must include:<\/p>\n
– An Independent source of funding for Local Authorities and not subject to the whims of the Department of the Environment.<\/p>\n
– Reform of the City and County Managers Act creating a new post of Chief Executive Officer \u2013 accountable to the relevant Local Authority and recruited by the Public Appointments Commission.<\/p>\n
– A directly elected Mayor of Dublin with a five year term and accountable to an enhanced Dublin Regional Authority. In that context I believe that Bertie Ahern is wrong to advance the case of a directly elected Lord Mayor solely for the City. It is the Dublin region that needs such political leadership.<\/p>\n
– Extending the role of the Dublin Regional Authority to include Transport and Planning and subsuming bodies such as the Dublin Transport Authority and the Affordable Housing Partnership.<\/p>\n
– Real controls and limitations on electoral spending at local elections and an ethical framework that is robust and just.<\/p>\n
Local Government is best placed to deliver real reform if let. It is time to stand up for better Local Government and long past time to “Stand up for Dublin”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The proposals from the Minister for the Environment and Local Government for a directly elected Mayor are of course a welcome step forward.\u00a0 Despite the fact that they remain just proposals, there is a real need to move the debate forward now beyond the issue of expenses, the Mansion House and all what we might […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[439,162,472,471,386,473,438,166],"class_list":["post-373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs","tag-bertie-ahern","tag-dermot-lacey","tag-dra","tag-dublin-mayor","tag-dublin-regional-authority","tag-expenses","tag-lord-mayor-of-dublin","tag-mansion-house"],"yoast_head":"\n