My question relates to having a directly elected mayor of Dublin. More than a year ago, the Tánaiste, who was the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government at the time, asked Deputy Eamon Ryan and me to pause our legislation on this matter on the basis that there would be movement on it in September of that year. I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to a plebiscite, which will run in tandem with the local and European elections next May. As the Tánaiste will be aware, Fianna Fáil was the only party to propose the idea of a plebiscite, although other parties support the idea of a directly elected mayor. Will the Tánaiste confirm the plebiscite will be of the people of Dublin only, as opposed to the Dublin region as a whole? Will he also confirm that the plebiscite will deal with the election of one mayor and not four mayors? Will he confirm that a position paper will be published well in advance of the plebiscite to give the people of Dublin ample opportunity for a proper, informed discussion and conversation on the matter?

Both the Taoiseach and I are absolutely committed to moving ahead with directly elected mayors. However, we will first ask people whether they want directed elected mayors. I would also like to see a directly elected mayor in Cork and other cities. That would be an advancement of local democracy and would give people real ownership of their first citizen, who they would elect directly.

It is unlikely that we will have four directly elected mayors in Dublin. Dublin is a much more complex local governance structure to manage in the context of electing one directly elected mayor across multiple local authorities and the interaction between the cathaoirligh of the various local authorities and a directly elected mayor. We are moving ahead with this proposal, albeit with caution. I note Deputy Lahart has been involved in those conversations.