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Wed 05 May 2004Combination of factors makes Dublin hard to callCOUNCIL PROFILE/Dublin City Council: With 52 seats, Dublin City Council is the largest local authority in the State. That makes elections for the council somewhat unpredictable; all the more so this year due to a combination of factors, including the Government's uncertain popularity rating, controversy surrounding the office of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and the abolition of the dual mandate.The ban on TDs holding a seat on the local authority has claimed high-profile candidates from the three main political parties, but arguably worst hit has been Fianna Fáil. The party has lost six poll-toppers in their respective wards in the 1999 elections: Noel Ahern, Martin Brady, Ivor Callely, Seán Haughey, Pat Carey and Eoin Ryan.