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AFEATURE Direct Mayors
Direct Mayors - Three Cities
to Decide
The people of Cork, Waterford and Limerick will vote on whether they want a directly-
t the end of May, residents of the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford will be given the chance to have their say
and their line minister.
But, as former Cork City Lord Mayor
Varadkar added a public information campaign would be launched to try explain to people how the office of the directly-elected mayor would work.
elected mayor.
on whether there should be a directly- elected mayor with significant powers to set policies and implement changes.
Des Cahill told TheJournal.ie recently, that doesn’t exactly make things clearer for people.
On the same day as the local and European elections, and the divorce referendum, locals in these areas will also vote on a plebiscite on the mayor issue.
“That would only really make sense to senior politicians. The problem at the minute is that it all sounds a little bit vague.
Former Waterford city and county Lord Mayor Adam Wyse told TheJournal.ie it’s essential to ensure people know exactly what they’re being asked to vote on.
However, with just under eight weeks to go until the elections, there are concerns that while there may be value in the idea of having a directly- elected mayor in these cities, there is a lack of clarity over what’s been outlined so far by government.
It’s about getting someone accountable to the people so I do think it’s a position that would be of value but there’s not enough information out there about it right now.”
“It might already be too last- minute,” he said. “Turnout is usually lower for local elections anyway. We saw last year young people get very engaged with the eighth amendment referendum, which was well flagged with information provided well in advance. That’s not happening now.”
The powers of the directly elected mayors involves a “significant transfer of powers” to the elected mayor from the council.
In terms of accountability, there will be a recall and impeachment procedure to deal with any misconduct by a major – who’d have the same salary as a Minister of State of €129,854.
Cahill added that, from canvassing to retain his own spot on the council in the upcoming local elections, there’s a lack of understanding of the issues at play.
The newly-elected mayors, if the public decide to vote for such a change, will be able to bring forward the council budget and development plan. However, individual decisions on planning will remain with the chief executive.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was pressed in the Dáil recently about the lack of information for the people of Cork, Waterford and Limerick to inform them of what’s on the table.
“I know from canvassing or knocking on doors,” he said. “I do fear there’s not enough public awareness of what it’s all about.”
According to the government, the relationship between the mayor and the council CEO would be similar to that which exists between a Secretary General of a government department
It’s understood that the vote will not be taken under the auspices of the referendum commission, which is obliged to distribute information to the public on any referendum taking place.
Most political parties are supportive of the idea of a directly-elected mayor in principle. The practice is common in major cities worldwide.
“I accept that we need to make sure there will be adequate information available before public go to the polls,” he said.
How it would work
The likes of Labour, Sinn Féin, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have all called for a mayor to be given powers to effect necessary change for the people in
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