Mind the gap: a Green-eyed view of position's powers versus its reality
- What John Gormley said: "I think a mayor here should have the opportunity to impose a congestion charge if necessary," he said in April 2008.
- What will actually happen:
The Dublin Transport Authority Act of 2008 set up the DTA, which later became the NTA. The mayor will sit within the NTA's structure. But the DTA act says less congestion can be encouraged "other than by means of a congestion charge".
- What Mr Gormley said: "I think you'd see tangible results of a directly elected mayor of Dublin, in relation to a good bus service which people are crying out for."
- What will actually happen: Improving bus routes is a "network planning matter for the NTA", according to the Department of the Environment.
- What Mr Gormley said:
"If you're just waiting for the bus, you know when the next one is going to come, and it's definitely going to be clean, it's going to be comfortable."
- What will actually happen: The day-to-day running of Dublin Bus is a "matter for the operator of the service", according to his department.
- What Paul Gogarty said: "We believe a strong mayor with a democratic mandate who makes recommendations to the national authority ... will have a huge impact," Gogarty, the likely Green candidate, said last month.
- What will actually happen:
According to legislation, the NTA can "accept or reject, in whole or in part," recommendations from the Greater Dublin Transport Council, which the mayor chairs.
Irish Independent
