Senator claims anti-Dublin bias in Government plans

The Government has displayed a distinct anti-Dublin bias in its programme and its actions since coming to power, Labour’s spokesman on the capital has claimed.

Dublin-based Senator Kevin Humphreys said the programme for government is largely focused on rural Ireland to the detriment of Dublin.

He said there is scant reference in the document to the State’s largest city despite 70 per cent of taxes being raised in the greater Dublin area.

"If you look at the programme for government and the various agreements Fine Gael has made with Independent groups, there is a very strong rural bias.

"Rural Ireland does need investment but that cannot be at the expense of Dublin. There's little focus on Dublin by this Government. As bias has grown in Leinster House against Dublin, we more than ever need a voice."

He said the highest net contributor to the exchequer was Dublin – this should have been reflected in spending on housing, infrastructure, water, broadband and buildings.

Mr Humphreys’s main concern was nobody was speaking out for Dublin, either at Government or local government level.

He argued the best way of addressing that question was through a directly-elected mayor for Dublin, backed up by a directly-elected regional council for the greater Dublin area.

"We need somebody who stands up for Dublin and articulates the real needs for the city. Somebody who lives in Malahide sees themselves firstly as a Dubliner and not as a Fingallian."

Mr Humphreys said those arguing for rural Ireland did not understand the dynamics of Dublin. “Dublin is not in competition with rural Ireland. It’s in competition with London, Madrid, Birmingham and Manchester,” he said.

He said his plan was for a mayor to be directly elected and for a regional council to be made up of councillors drawn from the four local authority areas. Each local authority would still have a council but would have a reduced number of councillors, each contributing some council seats to facilitate the greater Dublin council. Councillors would be directly elected.

Mayoral powers

Mr Humphreys said he would not be in favour of giving the mayor too many executive powers initially. Such powers would include transport, tourism, trade, the environment and strategic planning.

A 2014 effort by then minister for the environment Phil Hogan to introduce a directly-elected mayor foundered when it did not get through a vote in Fingal County Council.

The Greens and Fianna Fáil have also spoken in favour of a directly-elected mayor.

Minister for Housing and Local Government Simon Coveney said earlier this year he was keen to re-examine the proposition.