Dublin Citizens' Assembly has started its first session to consider what type of directly elected mayor would best serve the city.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to set up the office of a directly elected mayor.
The assembly has been given the task of looking at what powers the mayor should have and what form the local government structures in the city and county should take in the future.
Possible models include London and Paris where the mayor and a Regional Assembly form a tier above local councils, or Manchester where a directly elected Super Mayor sits above local authorities
Welcoming the members of the Dublin Citizens' Assembly this morning, Chairman Jim Gavin said no one should be embarrassed about a lack of knowledge about how local government works in Dublin as nobody has the information yet to answer the questions asked of the assembly.
There are 80 members of the Dublin Citizens' Assembly; 67 citizens selected to represent the city, 12 elected members from Dublin's four local authorities and Chairman Jim Gavin, former Manager of the Dublin football team.
This morning they heard presentations on 'What is Dublin' by geographer Dr Ruth McManus from DCU, and writer Roddy Doyle who read them his piece 'Dublin is a sound' which ends with "Dublin will thrive, because Dublin is the city that never shuts up".
They will also hear about the powers of local authorities and tomorrow there will be a panel discussion with the Chief Executives of the four local authorities in Dublin.
The assembly will complete its work and submit a report within nine months and will run in parallel with the National Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss which will hold its first session in two weeks.
