Dublin's New Lord Mayor Says Housing Crisis Is Top Priority
Dublin's new Lord Mayor says tackling the city's housing crisis is top of his agenda.
Micheál Mac Donncha of Sinn Féin was elected to the position at a meeting of Dublin City Council last night as part of a political pact between Labour, Independents and Sinn Féin.
In his speech, the newly-elected Lord Mayor said his main priority was to "work with this Council, with all oour communities, with those in housing need, and with central government to address this crisis".
"My first act as Ardmhéara will be to request a direct meeting with Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. I will also be requesting that he fulfills his predecessor's commitment to report back to a full meeting of this City Council on his Department's programme to address the dire shortage of housing.
He also called for a change to Government housing policy:
"This City Council must be given the resources and the support - financial, legal, logistical - to build homes, to purchase homes, to refurbish and extend homes - to meet the housing needs of the people".
During his speech he gave thanks to the other Councillors, "Sincere thanks to all Councillors who voted for me. It is a tremendous honor to be nominated for this position by Sinn Féin and to be elected by a majority of the elected representatives of the people of our city".
"We have always been a diverse city, an international city as well as the proud national capital of Ireland. I look forward to celebrating that diversity."
Councilor Aine Clancy from The Labour Party was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.
The Socialist Party nominated Workers' Party councilor Éilis Ryan.
Cllr. Ryan raised concerns about housing ahead of the vote, saying that “One of the few powers city councillors have is to control how the land they own is developed."
"It’s one area where a proper left alliance at city council level could have made a real difference", she believes.