Dublin City Council last night elected a Labour councillor, Mr Michael Conaghan, as the captital's lord mayor.
Mr Conaghan, who said he stood for a "Democratic alliance for change", immediately announced a new "charter for the people of Dublin", which would be published in the coming weeks and cover citizens' rights in relation to policing, planning, the environment and housing.
The election of Mr Conaghan marked a shift in power on the city council following the recent local elections. The Labour Party had previously shared the mayoralty with Fianna Fáil, but last night Mr Conaghan was seconded by Fine Gael and supported by the Greens and Ms Wendy Hederman of the Progressive Democrats. Mr Andrew Montague, another Labour councillor, was elected deputy lord mayor.
Mr Conaghan defeated Sinn Féin councillor Mr Larry O'Toole, who was proposed by fellow Sinn Féin councillor Mr Christy Burke. Mr Burke challenged the Labour Party to join an alliance of the left alongside Sinn Féin and left-wing independents.
Assuming the chair Mr Conaghan, a school teacher from Ballyfermot, said June 21st, solstice day, was "a day of magic from ancient Celtic times". Referring to Joyce's Ulysses in a hushed chamber, he asked: "What is your nation?" and replied: "Ireland. I was born here. Ireland."
Returning to the proposed charter, Mr Conaghan said the ethos of the new council would be policy driven, working for change with the city management, and delivering on citizens' rights in policing through high-level contact with the gardaí. He also promised delivery of people's rights in relation to environmental services, access to the planning system, which he said was "in the hands of a few", and housing which was a "basic human right".
The new lord mayor joined Mr Kevin Humphreys of Labour, Ms Niamh Cosgrave of Fine Gael and Mr Burke and Mr Maurice Ahern in paying tribute to the outgoing lord mayor, former councillor Mr Royston Brady, who was not present. Mr Conaghan said Mr Brady "had dared to be different - not an easy thing".
