Dublin business authority proposed

Dublin businesses have called for the establishment of a greater Dublin area authority to deal with the region's growing needs.

The authority's administrative footprint would encompass parts of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, as well as Dublin, and would be led by a directly elected Lord Mayor.

This was one of the main suggestions contained in the pre-election manifesto unveiled yesterday by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of businesses in the capital.

The chamber's president, Ronan King, described the Dublin region as the "powerhouse of the Irish economy", and said that its needs must be prioritised. He warned that the State will suffer if Dublin is weakened by "regional jealousy".

"The Dublin city region is not competing with other cities and regions in Ireland, but rather with international city regions, from Boston to Bangalore," he said.

Mr King was speaking at the "Dublin debate" yesterday, at which representatives from the various political parties debated key issues affecting businesses in the greater Dublin area.

Peter Stapleton of Lisney estate agency raised concerns that construction work on the interconnector tunnel may cause considerable disruption on St Stephen's Green.

Fine Gael's Richard Bruton said it has formulated a detailed strategy to minimise congestion caused by "the Big Dig". This includes plans to reopen the Phoenix Park tunnel, and strategic use of the Liffey bridges.

On the issue of Dublin's rising cost base and declining competitiveness, Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said that, if in power after the election, her party would establish an office of fair trading, similar to the office in operation in the UK.

Green Party TD Eamon Ryan stressed that development of Dublin airport must be a key priority for transforming Dublin into a more competitive city.

The chamber's chief executive, Gina Quinn, said that inadequate infrastructure in the Dublin region is hindering the city's ability to compete internationally for investment and jobs.