FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern wants to be Dublin’s first directly elected mayor when the position comes into force in 2011, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said yesterday.
Mr Gormley said he knew Mr Ahern “has his eye” on the job.
Mr Ahern said last week that the proposed establishment of a post of elected mayor of Dublin with executive powers would be of “immense value” to the city.
As he arrived at the convention to select a Fianna Fáil candidate for the Dublin Central byelection last night, Mr Ahern was asked if he was interested in becoming the city’s directly-elected mayor.
He replied: “What I said last week was, I said that I thought it was a very interesting post, a very important post and that the kind of person who should get it was an experienced politician who was in love with their city.” Asked if he wished to be included in that category he replied: “I wouldn’t have anything to say about that.”
Mr Gormley he would publish sections of the White Paper on local government reform before the elections on June 5th. The White Paper was to have been published late last year, but was delayed.
Mr Gormley said he expected there to be “huge interest” in the position. When asked if he thought Mr Ahern would like the job, he said, “The former taoiseach certainly has his eye on it.”
Bookmakers Paddy Power yesterday said it had reduced the odds on Mr Ahern becoming the first directly elected mayor to 5/1 from 14/1 as a result of Mr Gormley’s comments.
However, fellow Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey remains the favourite at 4/1.
Others the bookmaker considers to be in the running include Labour TD Pat Rabbitte (7/1), Mr Gormley (7/1), Senator Shane Ross (8/1) RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy (10/1), Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald (11/1), Senator David Norris (14/1), Bono (16/1), former lord mayor Royston Brady (22/1) and Bob Geldof (25/1).