IT’S OFFICIAL. Dublin will have a directly-elected lord mayor in 2011. He or she will have executive powers and a ministerial salary. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has hinted that he might be interested in the job, saying it would provide “a stronger democratic leadership” for the capital. So what do Dubliners think of a direct election, and who would they like as their elected first citizen?
- Eileen Lane, Clanbrassil Street area, south inner-city
“Well the one thing I can say is I don’t want Bertie back. He made enough of a mess when he was in. Some say he’s a Dub but he’s only a Dub when it suits him. He was no Dub down in the Galway tent. We’ve had enough of him.
"Actually, I think Gay Byrnewould be very good. He has a bit of fight about him, and good principles. He'd be a fantastic lord mayor. Ruairi Quinnwould be very good too. I can't think of any women at the moment I'd vote for though the lady we have as lord mayor at the moment [Eibhlín Byrne] is very good, especially with the older people.
She says the lord mayor has to clean up Dublin. “Dublin is gone very dirty. I live up behind Clanbrassil Street and the rubbish trucks don’t seem to be able to get up into our area.”
- Lorraine White, from the city-centre, selling fruit in Moore Street
“I definitely think it will make a difference if the lord mayor was elected. You can choose who you want. Though to be honest I wonder will it make much difference once they’re in. I think they all end up the same in the end – they make loads of promises and let you down in the the end.
"I wouldn't like to see Bertie get it. He got out before all this recession happened. Ronan Keatingnow, there's one for you. He'd probably do more for the people. But anyone who'd get in I'd like to see them sort that useless Government out."
- Rachel O'Brien, student, on Henry St
“Oh yes I think an elected lord mayor would be a good thing for Dublin. He or she could make parking in the city-centre cheaper to encourage people to come into the city to shop.
"I'd definitely like to see Bonoas lord mayor. It would be great because he's all politics and he'd encourage young people to be interested. People would be very inspired by him. I saw U2 in Croke Park a few years ago and he was talking about China and Burma and human rights. I don't know who the lord mayor is at the moment but we'd all definitely know about it if Bono was."
- Darren Burke selling papers at the GPO arcade
“Of course it would make a difference. At least if you were voting for someone you’d be interested in what they were doing. And I think they’d work harder if they had to get votes.
"I'd like to see them bring down rents, definitely for shops and pitches for selling papers and that. I don't know now who I'd like to get the job. Bring back Bertie maybe. Or Roy Keane. He's from Cork, I know, but he's a good manager and Keano is cool. He grew up like us, from the same kind of place as us.
"Or What about Miriam O'Callaghan? I'd definitely vote for her."
