THE RACE for the first directly elected mayor of Dublin is unlikely to get under way before next year following delays in legislation to allow for the creation of the new job.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley yesterday said he hoped the legislation would be in place by the end of the year.
The Bill dealing with the issue was due to have been published before the Dáil adjourned for the summer recess, but it is still not completed.
There were still “one or two” small issues that had to be dealt with before the legislation was ready, Mr Gormley said. The Bill was, however, on the “A list” for the new Dáil term he said.
“I hope we will have the legislation for the mayoralty done before Christmas.”
The creation of a directly elected mayor is part of the programme for government. It was identified by Mr Gormley as one of his priorities when he first took office three years ago and he said he remained determined that it would go ahead. “It’s a very important part of our programme for government. It’s essential, particularly now in this recessionary time that Dublin has a focus. Where you have directly elected mayors it does have a stimulating effect on the economy,” he said.
Mr Gormley said it was his preference that the mayoral election would be held on the same day as the three outstanding byelections and the children’s referendum.
He was speaking yesterday at the official unveiling at Chartered Land’s Grand Canal Square office development. The building has been given a BREEAM (Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method) rating of “excellent” for environmental sustainability.
