I wish to ask one simple question. What has Dublin done to this Fine Gael Government? In the past year, there has been a total lack of understanding of the issues affecting Dublin. Dublin makes a huge contribution - socially, economically and culturally - to the country but fails to get a fair deal in the context of investment. Dublin needs a loud and clear voice. I have supported a directly-elected mayor for many years. Fianna Fáil has tabled a Private Members' Bill on this in the Dáil, as has the Green Party. I have raised the issue in the House on many occasions. On the most recent of these occasions, the Minister gave a commitment to come back on a directly-elected mayor in June. It is now July but we have had no word. What we had was the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, having a laugh by suggesting three mayors for Dublin. It is purely a laugh. No one has considered that option.

The Taoiseach is on record as saying that Dublin needs a directly elected mayor and Fianna Fáil and the Green Party support that stance. I am not sure of the position of Sinn Féin. It is totally logical that a city of this size should have a directly elected mayor and that its citizens should have a voice. If the Government is going to have a laugh at the expense of the city, it will cost the country economically. We need that critical investment in the infrastructure of the city but it is not happening. I want to see the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, or the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, come to the House to answer on their commitments to the capital city because those commitments are not being honoured. The city is being ignored and I, for one, will not stand for it any more.

I echo what the previous Senator has said about inviting the Minister of State with responsibility for local government and electoral reform, Deputy Phelan, into the House. However, I do not see any point in having him here until we have confirmation of his devolved functions as set down by his principal line Minister. It is my understanding that they have not yet been issued. There is no point in having him here until his specific statutory responsibilities and obligations to the Department as well as his own, stand-alone functions are clear. We need to know whether we are talking to somebody with devolved power. If he does not have this, we should have the Minister himself come to the House instead. One area I would like the Department to consider is the proposals regarding the rumoured changes to local council boundaries for the next local elections. I understand that a commission is about to sit or that terms of references are to be drawn up for one. I would like to hear more about that.

I would also like to hear some explanation as to why the payment promised by the previous Minister, Deputy Coveney, namely, the €1,000 allowance to councils outside of Dublin, Cork city and Galway city, was refused. A circular was issued by the Department in which the Minister undertook to pay these councils on 1 July. That date has come and gone and I understand nothing is happening. I appeal to the new Minister to look at the whole issue of county councils being treated equally and having the same terms and conditions in respect of allowances. I ask the Acting Leader if we could have either the Minister or the Minister of State, if he is given the relevant devolved functions - of which I would like to have sight of a copy - come to the House for a meaningful debate.