Powerful mayor can put Dublin on a level with cities like New York, London and Paris

The Green Party’s MEP candidate for Dublin, Senator Deirdre de Burca, has welcomed the announcement that Dubliners will be voting for a powerful new mayor next summer.

She said: “Today is a good day for Dubliners and a proud day for the Green Party. The Minister for Local Government John Gormley has delivered one of our Party’s key policies on political reform. There will be elections in 2010 for a new mayor to govern the city’s four main local authorities – a year ahead of the date we negotiated into the Programme for Government.

“I am sure there will be a range of good candidates interested in running to be mayor next year. No assumptions can be made that any candidate will be a shoe-in – even if they are a household name. Hopefully Dubliners will elect a candidate with a real, green vision for the city.

“Since John Gormley’s time as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1994/95 the Green Party has seen the potential for a more powerful, directly-elected mayor with the ability to make transport work for all Dubliners, and to drive the city’s policies on planning, housing and waste and water services. Today we took a step close to that reality.

“For too long Dubliners have been deprived of a responsive and relevant political authority. As a result, our infrastructure has suffered and the services we receive are inadequate. A mayor with real powers, elected by the people – and answerable to them – can change turn this around and make Dublin a city that compares to the best cities in the world; that creates new jobs; and that we can all be proud to call home.

“When Ken Livingstone was elected the first Mayor of London in 2000 it is not an exaggeration to say that he turned around transport in the city – and relied on the supported of Green councillors in the London Assembly. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is currently turning New York green and under his mayoralty he has incentivised his city’s famous yellow cabs to switch over to cleaner, hybrid engines.

“Similar things are happening in other cities like Paris, Brussels and San Francisco. Going green creates jobs and helps economic recovery – especially for city regions like Dublin that are competing with other strong regions internationally.

“A powerful, directly elected mayor – supported by a strong panel of green councillors in Dublin can make our city a great place to live in,” she concluded.

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Press Release by Deirdre