Proper consideration of the role of Lord Mayor of Dublin is required before a plebiscite on the issue, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Mr Varadkar was responding to the Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan who pointed out that his predecessor John Gormley brought legislation to the Oireachtas to introduce a directly elected mayor to the capital.
Mr Ryan stressed the urgent need for the Government to move on the matter.
He also suggested backbench Fine Gael TDs from outside Dublin do not want to see a Dublin Lord Mayor elected.
He put it to Mr Varadkar that if Dublin crashes because of gridlock and with no one in charge, the Taoiseach would be held responsible for it.
The Taoiseach said Mr Ryan's party had several years in Government to "bring this about" and he did not.
Mr Varadkar confirmed a proposal was not brought to Cabinet and no backbenchers had raised the issue with him.
He said proper consideration of how the role of a Lord Mayor would work needed to be made.
"It needs to be figured out and it has to be figured out", he said.
