I want to clarify the response the Taoiseach gave to me last week on Leaders' Questions when I asked about directly elected mayors. I was very glad that the Taoiseach seemed to indicate that with regard to Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, he intended to have a plebiscite to introduce the ability of people to vote for mayors. With regard to Dublin, he said he would have to look at the issue because it was complex. Has the Taoiseach decided on the issue of allowing the people of Dublin to have a directly elected mayor? There was a slight caveat when I read the Official Report afterwards. The Taoiseach seemed to indicate he would have the plebiscite in May. I assumed the Taoiseach intended to have the plebiscite this October and we would vote for mayoral candidates in May. Is the Taoiseach considering having a plebiscite in May at the same time we have the local elections? It would be slightly farcical to ask people if they want a different system and at the same time getting them to vote in the old system. Will the Taoiseach confirm what exactly the intended arrangements are?

There has been no Government decision on it yet other than we will have plebiscites on directly elected mayors. We need to be realistic about timelines. I do not think it would be possible between October and May to pass all the legislation necessary to give effect to those new offices.

The Bill is sitting there ready to go.

Any of these things would need one or two years' lead-in and people will know that from when the office of the London mayor was established, it took a number of years to establish it properly.