Directly Elected Mayor Proposal As you can see the councillors in Fingal did vote to give Dublin City

y voters a vote on the directly elected mayor issue.

The vote was 23 for...with 1 abstention. Motion below. Other cities are often referred to when this issue is discussed, the remit of the Mayors in those cities runs within the electoral boundary of the city. You should also know that 16 cities in the UK rejected the proposal for a directly elected mayor. One size does not fit all ! I am in favour of a proposal with real hard details and facts being put to the people. Personally I would like to see a trial run(pilot) in Dublin City( with the consent of the voters in Dublin city) and if its seen to be working effectively and delivering for the area and the voters, then maybe extend it to the other electoral areas with the consent of the voters in those areas.

I supported both of these motions, which got cross party and independent support at Fingal Co Council meeting on the 31st March. Motion 1. The following motion in the names of Councillors Tom Kelleher and Kieran Dennison was agreed at the Fingal County Council, Special County Council Meeting Monday 31st March 2014. That Fingal County Council supports the right of the people of Dublin City Council Area to decide whether or not to have a directly elected Mayor to preside over the city of Dublin. Motion 2. The following motion in the names of Councillors Ruth Coppinger, Eugene Coppinger and Matt Waine were agreed at the Fingal County Council, Special County Council Meeting Monday 31st March 2014. This Council favours the holding of a plebiscite of the people of Dublin, after sufficient time and debate has taken place and around clear proposals for a Directly Elected Mayor. This is not possible on May 23rd and we call on the Minister to amend the leglislation to allow for a referendum at a later date.

Press Statement issued by Councillor Tom OLeary I welcome the commitment from Minister Hogan that the issue of a directly elected Mayor will be considered by the members of the councils after the local elections in May 2014. This proposal is a major change for local government and would have major implications for the Fingal area. It requires detailed consideration by the members of Fingal Co Council and the voters in Fingal. In principle I am in favour of a directly elected mayor , but the job specification and functions and cost benefit analysis must be clearly laid before the people and the councillors said Cllr Tom OLeary I look forward to further consideration of this proposal said Cllr Tom OLeary

Attached are comments from Minister Phil Hogan Directly elected Mayor Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government said I respect the rights of the elected members of each local authority to come to their own decision on important policy matters in relation to their own area.

Minister Hogan pointed out that the statutory requirement is for the same resolution in regard to a plebiscite to be passed by all 4 authorities, and this has not been achieved by the elected members of the 4 authorities. The statutory requirement of a majority of the councillors in each of the four Dublin local authorities being required to support the plebiscite was high, as it was necessary to ensure that there was genuine political consensus amongst the members on their view on the best governance arrangements for the office of directly elected mayor for Dublin.

Minister Hogan addedit was a matter for the elected members to form their own views, and it is clear that there is not a consensus across the Dublin authorities that would enable a plebiscite to be held.

The effect of the Fingal vote is that there will not now be a plebiscite at the time of the local elections in May on a proposal for an office of directly elected mayor across the 4 Dublin authorities constituting the Dublin Metropolitan Area. Minister Hogan concluded any further consideration of proposals for a directly elected mayor must take place after the local elections. I gave the opportunity to the elected members to develop a proposal for a plebiscite. They have not achieved a consensus, and further assessment of options must await the new councils to be elected in May.