London – New York and now Limerick.
That was the glamorous upbeat billing from Katie Hannon as the RTÉ Upfront Limerick mayoral debate kicked off in the Lime Tree Theatre in the city.
If there has times been a venomous sting to this wave of elections, this was a largely mannerly discussion on the campus of Mary Immaculate College.
The interventions were plentiful but rarely bruising.
Yes, high energy Independent Frankie Daly took verbal pot shots at those now running as non-party candidates, some of whom he believes are ingrained in Fine Gael.
He also feels non-councillors do not have the wherewithal to deliver what is needed most in the city and county, and the greatest need is of course housing.
Something that Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan rejected, and she also praised her party leader to the hilt, despite her criticism of Micheál Martin back in the days when she was a member of another political party.
Independent John Moran told the audience that he was never a member of any political party on any continent.
On housing, the former boss at the Department of Finance was adamant that most new homes must be private ones to adequately boost supply.
This view drew some groans from the audience and there were shouts of “shame” when he spoke about bringing in foreign capital to fund housing during the economic crash.
An altogether different approach was taken by People Before Profit–Solidarity candidate Ruairí Fahy who proposed universal housing.
Gerben Uunk of the Party for Animal Welfare spoke about the need to ensure more rental properties allow tenants to have a pet.
This is a contest spanning both rural and urban areas and the Green’s Brian Leddin was asked if he opposed one-off rural housing.
Mr Leddin sought to diplomatically highlight the need to regenerate rural towns and villages.
Labour’s Conor Sheehan described himself as the youngest candidate but the grown up in the room, he wanted a Limerick where no one would have to sleep in a doorway at night.
Housing too was the issue at the forefront for longtime Fine Gael figure Helen O’Donnell who is an independent candidate in this election.
If elected Limerick mayor she would establish a unit to accelerate the building of homes in the city and county.
The Fine Gael candidate Daniel Butler assured the audience that he too had a housing plan that would be funded in part through the new mayor’s €40 million discretionary fund.
All 15 people seeking this new high office were asked to outline their credentials for the job that comes with a salary of more than €150,000.
Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlivan highlighted his time as both a councillor and a TD as well as chairing an Oireachtas Committee.
Perhaps the underlying essence of this debate was best summed up by the Social Democrats’ Elisa O’Donovan.
Although the subject matter was transport, the sentiment was pure Limerick, when she concluded that those in Dublin don’t know what is happening on the ground in the city and county.
Say no more.
