Ahern plays down running in election to be mayor of Dublin

FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has said he would not consider putting his name forward as a candidate in the first direct elections for a mayor of Dublin unless the position involved extensive executive powers.

In comments that were seen as all but ruling himself out of the race, Mr Ahern said he would only think about it if the mayor had “full, full executive powers”, a scenario he said was very unlikely.

However, he did not fully exclude the possibility, saying only that he would not be willing to stand for the position based on his current understanding of what the mayor’s powers would be.

“The only thing I will say about that is I do hope if they bother doing it that they will give full executive powers. I have said this many times. Another mayor with no powers is useless,” said Mr Ahern at the official opening of the Holiday World Show in the RDS yesterday.

“When I say full powers, [they include] the powers to raise taxes. If you continue with the system that the mayor has to go down to the department for money then there’s no point in having a mayor.”

Asked to confirm that he was ruling himself out of the race, he replied: “On that particular [thing] yes. If I saw a mayor with full, full executive powers – which I don’t think from what I’m hearing I’m going to see – then you would think about it.

“I was a mayor 24 years ago with a chain around my neck and no powers. I don’t need to do that again.”

Mr Ahern was lord mayor of Dublin in 1985.

Meanwhile, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has said it is his hope the election for mayor will go ahead in June. While the legislation to enable the elections to go ahead has not yet been published, a spokesman for the department said this week that it would be published this term.

However, expectations of the election going ahead in June have lessened following this week’s disclosure that the enabling Bill was not on the priority lists of the programme of legislation published by Government chief whip Pat Carey.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen also hinted that a later date was more likely when commenting on the matter yesterday. “Obviously we have made no plans in relation to that at this point at all,” he said.

“There is a commitment in the programme for government that there will be a directly-elected mayor during the course of 2010. The heads of a Bill are being circulated to departments at the moment, and as soon as that part of the procedure is completed it will be brought to Government in due course.”

Asked about the possible candidacy of Mr Ahern, he said he did not have “any thoughts on the matter at all at the moment”.

Full details of the powers and scope of the position will not be disclosed until the legislation is published this term. However, Mr Gormley said last year the mayor would be in charge of the entire Dublin region, incorporating Dublin City Council and the three county councils in Co Dublin. The position would involve executive powers in the areas of land use, waste management, water services and housing. The mayor would also have powers in relation to the city’s transport policy.