THE new Mayor of South Dublin County Council has taken his seat after his election at County Hall, Tallaght.
Cllr Fintan Warfield (SF), representing the Templeogue-Terenure electoral area was elected Mayor, as tributes were paid to the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Dermot Looney and Deputy Mayor Eamon Tuffy.
As they stepped down both outgoing mayors thanked their fellow councillors, Chief Executive, Daniel McLoughlin and the management and staff of the council for their help and support during their term in office.
Cllr Warfield was proposed for Mayor by Cllr Sarah Holland (SF) and was seconded by Cllr Gus O Connell (Ind). Following a roll call vote Cllr Warfield was deemed elected to the office of Mayor.
In his acceptance speech Mayor Warfield said:
“I want to be a Mayor for all of the people of this county, in particular, I want to be a voice for those who have been left out or left behind.
“I want to be a campaigning Mayor, campaigning for change, for inclusion, and for equality.
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Mayor Warfield then outlined his priorities for his year in office which include highlighting the ongoing housing and homeless crisis in the county; promoting LGBT rights and in particular marriage equality and inclusive workplaces and developing practical solutions to the youth unemployment crisis.
Mayor Warfield concluded his speech by stating:
“As Mayor of South Dublin I want to make a connection with those people who at times feel invisible.
“Maybe it’s the girl with the funny name or unusual accent. Maybe it’s the boy who wants to wear make up in school. Maybe it’s the single mother struggling to make ends meet.
“Maybe it’s the unemployed man ashamed that he can’t put food on the table. Maybe it’s the older person who goes to the Square to keep warm or whom no one has visited in weeks.
“These are the people who I as Mayor want to stand with.
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Cllr Liona O’ Toole (Ind) representing the Lucan Electoral Area was elected Deputy Mayor. Deputy Mayor O’ Toole was proposed by Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) and seconded by Cllr Mick Duff (Lab).