Councillor Eibhlin Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin, spoke recently about what she saw her role as civil leader to involve.

My task as civic leader 

We are indeed living in turbulent times. I became Lord Mayor a mere six months ago and in that short space of time it seems that the world has tilted on its axis. With all the difficulties that those changes have brought there are also some real opportunities - opportunities to evaluate meaningfully where we are and what are the values we truly wish to espouse.

My vision for our city is a community which genuinely cares, a city which nurtures its young and cares for its older citizens. I want our Dublin to be a place where each individual can achieve his or her full potential, whatever that may be, a city open to a new future but secure in its past.

Translating values into actions is a challenge for any leader. We all aspire to be leaders of vision and hope. This is not easy to achieve, especially at a time when hope really is on the line. There is no doubt that our city and our society is in deep pain at a very fundamental level. My task as a civic leader is to help our communities to find that strength which I believe lies in each of us to ‘self heal’. By empowering our people we can strengthen our communities. I hope that every task I perform as Lord Mayor strengthens somebody to go out and make Dublin a better place.

Women like the women of O’Devaney Gardens don’t need a Lord Mayor to speak for them. They are articulate, strong women who find themselves betrayed by a system that didn’t work. I cannot speak for them but I can speak with them. I can, and do, stand in solidarity with them. Other men and women are less fortunate. Those who ravage our city with drugs have silenced whole communities. I choose to be the voice of those silenced by fear. Our homeless often feel abandoned. By keeping in touch I remind them that we still care no matter what path their lives have taken. Those who serve our citizens - Gardai, Fire Services and others, need a voice to acknowledge their efforts - to say thank you. We need you, we value you. That too is my job.

The promotion of the respect and dignity of every person in Dublin is at the core of my role - ensuring that ‘the system’ sees the individual, influencing policy to ensure that justice is done and speaking out on issues which need to be aired. This is what it means to be Lord Mayor. This is what it means to translate your ethics, your values into action. Along the way there are many frustrations. Intransigence, self interest, wilful manipulation – there are no shortage of blocks along the path but the challenge is to ensure that after every setback you dust yourself off and get right back up again. That is what I do everyday. Battles are won and lost but tomorrow is always another day and Dublin is truly a wonderful city, worth fighting for.

I am reminded of the words which I often quote to young people “Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator but above all thou shalt not be a bystander.” The comment I would most hate to hear about my year as Lord Mayor would be that I sat on the ditch. I hope that people will feel that I articulated those values which are at the heart of our Dublin communities and that I helped steer our city towards a vision of hope and solidarity.