A former Lord Mayor of Dublin has panned plans for a directly elected Mayor in the capital as “unworkable” and “akin to Brexit”. 

In recent days, Fine Gael has come out strongly in favour of the creation of a Dublin Mayor with sweeping powers over the capital city. 

However, speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, former Lord Mayor and Fianna Fáil Councillor Daithí de Róiste said he favours a directly elected mayor in principle but thinks there is currently not enough detail out there. 

“It’s akin to Brexit, you’ve no idea how it’s going to be implemented, you’ve no idea how it’s going to work,” he said. 

The Labour Party has said Dubliners should vote in a plebiscite to gauge their views on the principle of an elected mayor, an idea Mr de Róiste labelled “unworkable”. 

“Calling for a plebiscite right now is akin to Brexit,” he argued. 

“We’ve no idea how getting people to vote on something that they’ve no idea how it’s going to be implemented [will work out]. 

“That report that was carried out by Jim Gavin in 2022 and passed in 2023, it talks about giving the directly elected Lord Mayor responsibility in 21 different areas. 

“Housing, homelessness, climate change, police, transport and education. 

“We’ve no idea how these powers are going to be devolved; we’ve no idea if there’s going to be a budget devolved with it or people.” 

Monument of Daniel O'Connell in Dublin. Picture by: Leonid Andronov / Alamy. 15 July 2015

Mr de Róiste continued that few people are aware of just how powerful a directly elected mayor could be. 

“I don’t think many people understand that this directly mayor would be responsible for primary and secondary schools in the city,” he said. 

“Would be responsible for primary healthcare centres, the community healthcare teams, climate change, for transport, for policing. 

“I don’t see central Government devolving those powers, I don’t think the Ministers will, I think we’d have a very fragmented system. 

“We’ve no idea how it’s going to be implemented.” 

Leinster House. Picture by: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Also on the programme, Labour MEP for Dublin Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said a plebiscite should be held on the same day as the Presidential Election, arguing Dubliners should have the right to decide the issue themselves. 

“There was a commitment in the Programme for Government of consideration for a plebiscite; so you ask the people of Dublin first whether they want this office or not before you go through the process of establishing it,” he said. 

“The only opportunity that we have of actually going to the polls over the next four years is the Presidential Election. 

“Knowing politics as I do, it’s very unlikely that the Government are going to have a one off plebiscite just for Dublin. 

“They’ll cite cost issues, they’ll cite other issues and Dublin, unfortunately, has never been really seen as a political priority.” 

A Presidential Election is expected to be held in October or November, before President Higgins’ term ends on November 11th.

Main image: A man places his vote in a ballot box. Picture by: AP Photo/Peter Morrison.