Byline: Fiona McGoran

Royston Brady shops to his credit card limit then ignores the bills, but he's now learning to save, writes Fiona McGoran.

BECOMING lord mayor of Dublin hasn't called a halt to Royston Brady's spending habits. The councillor, 31, admits that he is a compulsive shopper and has no idea of the state of his finances from one end of the month to the other.

Brady has been a member of the Fianna Fail party since he joined Ogra at 11. He was selected as a candidate in November 1998 for local elections and, at 26, became the youngest member of Dublin City Council. Having served as deputy lord mayor in July 2000, he was elected lord mayor in July. He is now Dublin's 374th lord mayor.

Brady aims to promote Dublin as a tourist destination and to provide sports facilities and playgrounds for children. He believes that these facilities will help deter bored youths from drug and alcohol abuse.

How much money do you normally have in your wallet? Do you carry anything unusual or sentimental in it?

I try to avoid using my credit card. I prefer cash because I know where I stand with it. I have an Aer Lingus gold circle card and an American driver's licence which I keep to remind me of the fantastic time I spent there. I also carry my dad's old work pass for Dublin Castle. He worked in the sorting room.

Do you believe in the idea of credit?

I am a walking credit disaster. I never pay my credit card bills on time. I use my card until I reach my limit and then I ignore the bills for three or four months.

Before going to America in 1993, I was not credit oriented, but my attitude changed over there. When I returned to Ireland in 1997, I noticed that far more Irish people relied on plastic and that credit had become far more accessible.

Are you a saver or a spender?

A spender. Money goes into my account...