New Lord Mayor to prioritise the housing crisis
FIANNA Fáil councillor Tom Brabazon has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin and said tackling the city’s housing crisis will be his priority.
He was elected by 34 votes to 26 in a roll-call vote, with three councillors exempt, at a special sitting of Dublin City Council last night.
Cllr Brabazon served as Deputy Lord Mayor to Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, who was elected to the Dáil at the General Election earlier this month.
His wife Liz and their three children joined him after his election.
Independent councillor Anthony Flynn also contested the role.
“I’m delighted to be elected to the position,” Cllr Brabazon told the Irish Independent.
“I’ve seen other councillors be candidates for lord mayor and miss out by one vote so it’s a nerve-racking time.
“When you get over the line it’s an absolutely wonderful feeling.”
He said that he will not re-contest the lord mayor position when it is up for election again in June and will allow the Green Party to run a candidate as per the Dublin Agreement.
“I’ll take my four months and I’ll be very grateful for it,” he said.
“The past four weeks have been a wonderful experience and you learn so much on the hoof.
“The priorities are to highlight access issues within the city for all citizens.
“Housing is a major priority for me and also to continue some of the very worthwhile initiatives that Paul McAuliffe began,” he added.
Green Party, Labour and Social Democrat councillors voted for Cllr Brabazon, while Fine Gael, People Before Profit and Social Democrat councillors voted for Cllr Flynn.
Fine Gael’s Colm O’Rourke lost out to Fianna Fáil councillor Racheal Batten, who was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Cllr Batten was elected with 33 votes to 12, with 10 abstentions and eight absent.
“Taking on this role is the highest honour of my life so far,” she said.
“As councillors, we must lead by example and not tolerate hatred or abuse of any kind.”
However, the mayors elected last night will only hold their positions until June 24, when a new lord mayor and deputy mayor will be elected.
“Being the 350th Lord Mayor of Dublin was probably the greatest honour of my life,” said outgoing mayor Mr McAuliffe.