Opposition issue warning over directly elected mayor

A NEW directly elected mayor of Dublin would waste money and act as a poor role model for the rest of the country, the opposition last night warned.

Fine Gael and Labour attacked new legislation driven by the Greens to create the post, insisting Dubliners did not want it.

Environment Minister John Gormley dismissed the criticism, insisting the mayor would mark a new era in Irish local democracy and have a major impact on the country.