Some weeks ago, an undemocratic and farcical decision was taken by a group of Fingal councillors, a number of whom will either not stand again or will be defeated in the forthcoming elections, in regard to the Dublin mayoralty. The overwhelming majority of the 127 Dublin councillors, from the Ceann Comhairle's area in Dún Laoghaire, from south Dublin, Dublin city and Fingal, voted that people at least be allowed to make a decision on whether or not Dublin should, in common with all other great cities, have a directly elected mayor.

In view of what happened in Fingal and in light of the fact that many people believe that the legislation brought forward by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, was deliberately designed to end in failure, will the Taoiseach give all Dubs a chance to make a decision as to whether they want a directly-elected mayor? In a few days' time, people all over the city, from the Ceann Comhairle's constituency to my own, will be supporting the great Dublin football team in the national league final. There is a need for a democratic decision in respect of this matter. We should have a directly-elected mayor with strong powers and considerable autonomy because that is how it works in most great capital cities. Will the Taoiseach give the Dubs a chance to vote on having a directly-elected mayor by introducing new legislation the week after next?

The Dubs were certainly in devastating form during the second half of last Sunday's game. Councillors in Fingal were democratically elected to represent the people who live there. Proceeding with the proposition that was put forward in respect of a directly-elected mayor was contingent on all the councils supporting it.

We are talking here about a tiny minority. There was only one blue shirt involved.

Fingal County Council is a democratically elected authority and those who were elected as members of it represent all of the people. The members of the council made a democratic decision.

They did not make such a decision.

Sorry about that, Deputy Broughan.

What happened was ridiculous.