New Dublin Mayor vows to prioritise housing issue

THE new Lord Mayor of Dublin said her priority for her term in office will be to support families who have been waiting years for housing.

Sinn Féin councillor Críona Ní Dhálaigh, who represents the Crumlin-Kimmage Local Electoral Area (LEA), took over the chains of office from outgoing Mayor, Cllr Christy Burke, last week.

Cllr Ní Dhálaigh said she was proud to take up the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin.

“I am especially proud to be the first Sinn Féin mayor for Dublin and I am very grateful for the support that made this possible,

? she said.

“I know that for some it was a bit of a leap of faith and I acknowledge that.

“I am conscious that this position is a responsibility, not a privilege, and that it is my role to serve the people of this city, and my fellow councillors in an open, honest and transparent manner.

?

“The Proclamation speaks to us today more urgently than ever.

“The Proclamation’s commitment to

‘equal rights and equal opportunities’ for all our people has yet to be fulfilled. We do not yet live in an equal city, or an equal country.

“I would like our new motto as a city to be Cathair Chomhionannais – City of Equality.

In line with this sentiment, Cllr Ní Dhálaigh said her priority for the year to come will be those families who have been waiting years for housing, but also those who, once they get a house, find it is not a home, but a battleground, a place where they must fight every day for basic living conditions.

“We must work towards realistic, sustainable and achievable solutions to the housing crisis,

? she stated.

“We must ensure that people of our capital city have homes, not just houses, and make our city of equals a place to live, work and grow.

“In that vein, I will use my year as mayor to push for all council procurement contracts, in line with EU law, to contain social clauses requiring investment and support for local communities.

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Cllr Ní Dhálaigh has also vowed to work for workers’ rights and cited the recent issues at Clerys and Dunnes Stores.

“During the coming year I also hope to encourage and integrate the use of the Irish language in daily Dublin life, to make our first language more visible and prominent in our first city,

? she added.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce said it welcomed Cllr Ní Dhálaigh’s appointment.

Gina Quin, chief executive of the chamber, said Cllr Ní Dhálaigh’s impressive track record as a councillor makes her an excellent choice for Lord Mayor.

“Críona’s work in the area of social housing has been particularly effective over the past few years and we were delighted to have her speak on the issue of homelessness at a chamber council meeting earlier this year,

? said Ms Quin.

“It is tradition that the newly elected Lord Mayor of Dublin is appointed to the governing board of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, so we are looking forward to continuing our close working relationship with her to help make Dublin a more competitive and exciting place to live, visit and do business.

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Cieran Perry, an Independent councillor for the Cabra-Finglas Local Electoral Area (LEA), has been elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin for the 2015/2016 term.