Agenda and minutes

The Deputy Lord Mayor Donna Cooney invited former Lord Mayor James Geoghegan to address the Members.

Deputy Geoghegan thanked the Members for the opportunity to speak at the Special Council meeting. He extended his appreciation to the staff of the Mansion House, the Chief Executive, the Deputy Lord Mayor and the elected Councillors for their support during his time in office. He said it was a great honour to serve the people of Dublin and wished the new Lord Mayor and Council well in addressing the challenges that face the city.    

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Byrne and seconded by Councillor Emma Blain “that Mr. David Coffey be co-opted to replace former Councillor James Geoghegan who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Coffey took his place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to him by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Declan Flanagan and seconded by Councillor Supriya Singh “that Ms. Clodagh Ní Mhuirí be co-opted to replace former Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Ní Mhuirí took her place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to her by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Racheal Batten and seconded by Councillor Keith Connolly “that Ms. Aoibheann Mahon be co-opted to replace former Councillor Tom Brabazon who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Mahon took her place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to her by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Daithí Doolan and seconded by Councillor Kourtney Kenny “that Mr. Ciarán Ó Meachair be co-opted to replace former Councillor Maire Devine who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Ó Meachair took his place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to him by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Jesslyn Henry and seconded by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll “that Ms. Lesley Byrne be co-opted to replace former Councillor Jen Cummins who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Byrne took her place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to her by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Cian Farrell and seconded by Councillor Mary Callaghan “that Ms. Tara Deacy be co-opted to replace former Councillor Eoin Hayes who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Deacy took her place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to her by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Nial Ring and seconded by Councillor Cieran Perry “that Mr. Kevin Breen be co-opted to replace former Councillor Barry Heneghan who was elected to Dáil Éireann and therefore was deemed to have resigned from Dublin City Council.” The motion was put and carried. Councillor Breen took his place in the Chamber and joined the meeting. Congratulations were extended to him by the Deputy Lord Mayor and by the Members of the City Council.

It was moved by Councillor Patrick Kinsella and seconded by Councillor Gayle Ralph “that Councillor Emma Blain be proposed for the Office of Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin for the period from 18^th December, 2024 to continue in such office (subject to her death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise ceasing to be a Member of the City Council) until her successor shall have been elected at the Annual Meeting of the City Council on 30^th June 2025”. 

It was then moved by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Councillor Janice Boylan “that Councillor Daniel Ennis be proposed for the Office of Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin for the period from 18^th December, 2024 to continue in such office (subject to his death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise ceasing to be a Member of the City Council) until his successor shall have been elected at the Annual Meeting of the City Council on 30^th June 2025”. 

Following a vote, Councillor Emma Blain was declared to be elected Lord Mayor and she was invested with the Collar of SS and the Insignia of Office. The Members of the City Council, Chief Executive and staff all warmly congratulated the newly elected Lord Mayor. For full details of this vote, see Appendix A to these minutes.

Lord Mayor Emma Blain then took the Chair and thanked her fellow Councillors for their support in electing her as the Lord Mayor. She thanked her proposer and seconder for their kind words and support. She thanked Deputy James Geoghegan for the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to the role of Lord Mayor since June last year. She said that it was a privilege to be elected as first citizen of Dublin City and would work tirelessly to improve the experience of those who live in, work in and visit the city.

It was agreed to defer the filling of this vacancy to the January meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Councillor Seamas McGrattan that Councillor Tara Deacy be appointed to the Finance Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Colm O’Rourke that Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí be appointed to the Housing and Social Inclusion Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ciaran Perry and seconded by Councillor Pat Dunne that Councillor Kevin Breen be appointed to Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Colm O’Rourke that Councillor David Coffey be appointed to the Planning and Urban Regeneration Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Daithí Doolan and seconded by Councillor Kourtney Kenny that Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair be appointed to the Planning and Urban Regeneration Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Councillor Tara Deacy that Councillor Lesley Byrne be appointed to the Climate Action and Urban Resilience Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Declan Flanagan that Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí be appointed to the Climate Action and Urban Resilience Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was agreed to defer the filling of the Non-Party vacancy to the January meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Councillor Jesslyn Henry that Councillor Lesley Byrne be appointed to the Local Travellers Accommodation Consultative Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was agreed to defer the filling of this vacancy to the January meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Ciaran Perry and seconded by Councillor Nial Ring that Councillor Kevin Breen be appointed to the Protocol Committee. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Colm O’Rourke that Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí be appointed to the Protocol Committee. The motion was put and carried

It was proposed by Councillor Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Councillor Jesslyn Henry that Councillor Lesley Byrne be appointed to the Dublin Mid-Leinster Regional Health Forum. The motion was put and carried.

It was proposed by Councillor Daithí Doolan and seconded by Councillor Kourtney Kenny that Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair be appointed to the Dublin Mid-Leinster Regional Health Forum. The motion was put and carried

It was proposed by Councillor Daithí Doolan and seconded by Councillor Tara Deacy that Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair be appointed to the Board of St. James Hospital. The motion was put and carried.

It was agreed to defer the filling of this vacancy to the January meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor Ray McAdam and seconded by Councillor Colm O’Rourke that Councillor Declan Flanagan be appointed as Chairperson of the Climate Action and Urban Resilience Strategic Policy Committee. The motion was put and carried.