asked the Minister for Local Government whether he received a request to meet a group of persons who were elected to Dublin City Council in 1967 to discuss the possibility of restoring the city council; if so, what action he has taken; and his reasons therefor.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Council.
81.
I have received such a request, and have replied that no useful purpose would be served by the reception of a deputation.
Surely the Minister is aware that there are many urgent matters affecting the city and people of Dublin, including the approval of the draft town plan, the serious worsening of the financial situation in relation to housing and many other matters, and that there is a group of 45 people who were elected three years ago to manage the city, who, whatever differences they have had with the Minister, are nevertheless in touch with the people? Would the Minister not seriously consider meeting those people with a view to reconstituting the Dublin City Council?
The decision to disestablish Dublin City Council was taken by the majority of the persons for whom the Deputy is now speaking.
The Minister knows what he has said is entirely wrong. The decision was not taken by Dublin City Council. It was taken by the then Minister, Mr. Kevin Boland.
He did not have any discretion in the matter.
Is the Minister not aware that there were other options open to the Minister at the time, but he chose to deny the people of Dublin their democratic right of having their own people representing them? Is there anything now to stop the Minister from reconstituting the council, if necessary by legislation?
A majority of the members of Dublin Corporation at that time voted to disestablish it. It is wrong of the Deputy to give the impression now that they were not aware at that time that their decision to refuse to strike an adequate rate in that year meant that this could lead to the disestablishment of the council. They made their decision in the full knowledge that this would be the consequences of their action. At this present time I do not propose to take any actions in relation to the appointment of the previous councillors as commissioners, which is the only real power I would have, unless we hold another election. As we will have local elections coming up in the not too distant future, and as proposals are under examination at the moment for reorganisation of local government, I do not propose to take any action at this time in relation to Dublin Corporation.
The Minister wants to dictate everything.
No. I did not dictate anything. I came into this Department, I saw a situation and I have made a decision which I think is the right one in that situation. Time can only tell whether I am making the right decision or not.
(Cavan): Surely the Minister is not as thick or as unreasonable as his predecessor and on that basis he should meet the people concerned?
I do not accept that my predecessor was as the Deputy alleges.
Aithníonn ciarog ciarog eile.
Would the Minister not agree that, irrespective of the circumstances under which the disestablishment took place, it is utterly undemocratic that one man should control the destiny of so many people in this city? For that reason alone the Minister should seek ways and means of speedily resurrecting the borough council so that the representatives of the people may at least perform their duties?
These are all matters which should have been kept in mind by the people who made this decision at that time. They now see the consequences of their actions.
It is Kevin Boland and the Government who were the cause of this.
The people understand the real facts. There is no point in trying to cover up.
Has the Minister any idea when there will be local elections?
That is a separate question.
1972.