The Green Party has accused Fine Gael of dropping the ball for a directly-elected mayor for Dublin, as media reports this morning suggest that Dublin will lose out in plans to allow citizens to vote for their mayor. The Green Party was the first party to push for a directly elected mayor, and the party has a comprehensive bill before the Oireachtas currently which has been under discussion by the government for over a year.Councillor Ciarán Cuffe of the Greens described this as a blow for democracy. Commenting on reports that the mayor for Dublin has been dropped he said:"Dublin deserves better. At a time when we face huge housing and traffic challenges the red tape and bureaucracy of the Customs House is stifling progress for the nation's capital. Currently all significant proposals for tackling Dublin's difficulties require sign-off from Ministers who don't understand the reality of life in the capital."Should Kevin 'Boxer' Moran be in charge of Stephen's Green? Is it necessary for the Minister for Housing to sign off on Dublin City Council housing projects on three separate occasions before a sod is turned? Dublin deserves a voice and an authority that comes directly from the residents of the city. It is time for Minister Murphy to take a leaf from great cities like London, New York and Barcelona and allow the people of Dublin to elect their mayor. The legislation to make this a reality is there, ready to go. The government needs to get serious and help Dublin help itself now".Issued and uploaded 31st August 2018