Speech by Ciarán Cuffe in Dáil Eireann on a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin - 3 November 2010

The enactment of new planning laws will see the beginning this summer of a transformation in how we plan our towns, cities and regions, the Minister of State with responsibility for Planning, Ciarán Cuffe said today, following the passing of the Planning and Development Bill through all stages of the Oireachtas: 

"At the heart of these new planning laws is a simple idea – to put the interests of our citizens ahead of any one interest group, be they property developers or landowners."

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley T.D. today published details of legislation to provide for a directly elected mayor for the Dublin region.

Under the proposed legislation in the general scheme of a Local Government (Dublin Mayor and Regional Authority) Bill 2010, the mayor will have a range of substantial powers to establish and deliver a vision for Dublin. The Mayor’s election, from a population base of 1.2million, will also give the Mayor a unique mandate in Irish political life to act as leader and advocate of Dublin.