Ó Ríordáin calls for plebiscite on Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin to be held on Presidential polling day
Ó Ríordáin calls for plebiscite on Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin to be held on Presidential polling day - The Labour Party
Labour’s spokesperson on Dublin Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP said the time is now to pave the way for a directly elected Mayor of Dublin.
Calling on Government to hold a plebiscite on October 24th, Ó Ríordáin said it’s time to put this question to the people.
Ó Ríordáin said:
“There’s been no shortage of lip service from Government when it comes to tackling the problems facing our capital service, but no action. I am reiterating my call for a plebiscite to be held on the same day as the Presidential election to let the people have their say.
“The Programme for Government makes a clear commitment to this, so why not act now? With this commitment coming from Jim Gavin’s Citizens Assembly, I’d expect that Fianna Fáil in particular would be in full support of my calls.
“There are serious problems in our city that we can’t rely on central Government to resolve. It demands focused action and someone tasked with ensuring everyone in our city has the best chance at life.
“Dublin is creaking at the seams. Our city has a crime crisis, a childcare crisis, a housing crisis, a climate crisis, a transport crisis. Just last night, another business appears to be victim to an arson attack. These issues demand panzer like attention and, crucially, accountability.
“Cities compete globally for investment, talent, visitors, and attractions. Dublin is being left behind because of a political vacuum at the heart of decision making in our capital city. Earlier this week, David McRedmond called for Government to set aside €1million in funding for the Dublin Taskforce action plan, but no response has been forthcoming. We need someone in charge to steer the ship.
“There is much that is great about Dublin, and we want to harness the spirit and energy of our city as a national and global melting pot. Too much political debate in Ireland is focussed around using Dublin as a punching bag for other areas looking for investments. The reality is our city has never been properly invested in or received the attention from Government it deserves. When Dublin thrives, Ireland wins, because it is the engine of our economy and generates growth and revenues that provide opportunities for people across our island.
“Let’s ask the people what they think. I’m calling on this Government to do the right thing for the future of our capital and its people.”