Seanad to examine future of local democracy

A Seanad Éireann committee on the future of local democracy will publish a report in 2024 ahead of the local elections.

With the elections scheduled for June 2024, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee is currently taking submissions from the public. Launching the call for submission from the public, Seanad Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly said:

“Local authorities form an essential part of Irish life. For this reason, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee is interested in hearing the public’s views on engagement and participation in local government, the powers of local authorities, as well as the impacts of recent and proposed changes to the local government process.”

The committee will explore the future of local democracy across three themes. These are: public engagement and participation in the local government process and functions; the powers of local authorities; and the impact of changes to the local government process, such as the abolition of town councils and the introduction of directly elected mayors.

The issues to be explored by the committee include:

• challenges of getting candidates for local elections;
• representation of women, minorities, and new Irish groups;
• powers of local authority members;
• impact of overarching legislation and national policy documents on the functioning of local authorities and the role of its elected members and executive;
• comparisons with other countries’ local democratic structures;
• consideration of the time involved in the role of councillors and how this impacts on their careers, family life, and wellbeing;
• how local government can play a greater role and have a positive impact on climate action, housing, infrastructure, regional development, etc;
• cross border cooperation at local government level across the island of Ireland;
• supports available to councillors;
• address the powers and functions between the executive and the elected council;
• examine devolving more powers to the local authorities through the legislative process to strengthen and enhance local democracy;
• examine training provided to elected members of local authorities in order to discharge their duties; and
• addressing the issue of abuse, threats and harassment in local government, and the importance of civility in public life.

“The Seanad Public Consultation Committee is interested in hearing the public’s views on engagement and participation in local government, the powers of local authorities, as well as the impacts of recent and proposed changes to the local government process.”
Leas-Chathaoirleach Mark Daly

Removing threats

A particular focus of the committee’s work, as emphasised by Leas-Chathaoirleach Daly, will be how to tackle violence and intimidation against local representatives.

Prior to the formal launch of the Seanad committee, an independent councillor in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Hugh Lewis, was attacked by what is believed to have been a far-right activist. A rock bearing the message ‘stop supporting refugees’ was thrown through the window of Lewis’s family home.

Senator Daly commented on the issue of tackling violence: “The Committee is also particularly concerned by harassment on social media, and the rise of abuse and attacks towards those involved in public life, and it is anxious to get the views of the public on addressing these most serious issues.”

The Seanad Éireann committee is open for consultations until 24 September 2024, and will release its report ahead of next year’s local elections.