Doyle and Gavin open mayoral meeting
NOVELIST Roddy Doyle and former Dublin manager Jim Gavin opened the first meeting of the Dublin Citizens’ Assembly yesterday.
Booker-prize winner Roddy was said to have ‘had the audience in stitches’ as he described the ‘sounds of Dublin and the city’s character’, in his speech to the assembly.
Mr Gavin, who led his county to a historic five All-Ireland titles in a row, is the chairman of the assembly on a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin. The assembly also includes 67 randomly selected citizens and 12 elected councillors.
Mr Gavin said in his opening address at the Grand Hotel in Malahide, ‘I am honoured and privileged to be your chairman for this most significant gathering of free people to discuss, debate and dream about the future of our great county and city of Dublin’.
The meeting also heard from a range of other speakers including geographer Ruth McManus, who spoke about the history and geography of Dublin; and the UCC lecturer Aodh Quinlivan, who gave a presentation to the meeting about local government.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin oversees in local government as chairman of Dublin City Council.
The chief executives of the four Dublin local authorities will address the assembly this morning, with each giving a five-minute presentation before taking part in a panel discussion, with questions from the members of the assembly.
These questions will focus on the structures, governance and financing of local government in Dublin.