Meetings

Dublin Citizens’ Assembly

Weekend Three:  25 – 26 June

From 8 a.m.    Registration, coffee

9.00 a.m.        Members introduce themselves at their roundtables

9.15 a.m.        Introduction by the Chairman, Jim Gavin – objectives for the weekend [presentation]

Devolution I

9.30 a.m.        ‘Devolution and New Powers at Local Level: Debates, Proposals and Experience’ Dr. Mark Callanan, author: Local Government in Ireland (2018) [presentation]

9.50 a.m.        Roundtable discussion (private session)

10.20 a.m.      Q&A

10.45 a.m.      The reality of devolution – Bertie Ahern

11 a.m.           Q&A (questions from the previous session, moderated by the Chairman)

11.30 a.m.      Coffee

11.45 a.m.      A perspective of DEM and its benefits and challenges from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Graham Doyle, Secretary General [opening statement] [briefing material]

12 noon          Roundtable discussion (private session)

12.30 p.m.      Q&A (accompanied by a senior official specialising in local government)

12.45 p.m.      Lunch

The Limerick Experience

1.45 pm          Lessons from Limerick – Tim O’Connor, Chairman IAG 

2 p.m.             Roundtable discussion

2.30 p.m.        Q&A

Devolution II – Powers that might be devolved

2.50 p.m.        Transport – Brian Caulfield (TCD) [presentation]

3.05 p.m.        Education and Skills – Prof. Joe O’Hara (DCU) [presentation]

3.20 p.m.        Childcare – Ms. Assumpta O’Neill, Wicklow County Childcare Manager [presentation]

3.35 p.m.        Coffee

4 p.m.             Roundtable discussion (private session)

4.15 p.m.        Q&A

Finance, funding and taxation

4.30 p.m.        Local govt finance in comparative perspective – Theresa Reidy (UCC) [presentation]

4.50 p.m.        Roundtable discussion (private session)

5.20 p.m.        Closing remarks by Chair

Sunday morning

9.15 a.m.        Plenary feedback session from yesterday’s roundtable discussions

A Democratically Elected Mayor – a view from the business community

09.45 a.m.      Dublin Chamber of Commerce – Mr. Aebhric McGibney, Director of Public and International Affairs [presentation]

                        Chambers Ireland – Mr. Shane Conneely, Director of Policy & Communications [presentation]

10.15 a.m.      Roundtable discussion (private session)

10.45 a.m.      Q&A

11 a.m.           Coffee

11.15 a.m.      What have we learned so far?

Capturing the members’ first thoughts on:

1. The strengths and weaknesses of the current model of local government in Dublin.
2. The potential benefits, risks, challenges and opportunities associated with a directly elected Mayor for Dublin.

• What functions could be transferred from central government to regional or local government in Dublin.

1. How this should be funded.
2. The appropriate structure for local and regional government, councils and authorities.

12.45 p.m.      Completion of evaluation surveys

12.55 p.m.      Conclusions by Chairman [presentation]

1 p.m.             End