Meetings
3rd meeting: 25th June - 26th June 2022
Dublin Citizens’ Assembly
Weekend 3: 25 June – 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:
- The strengths and weaknesses of the current model of local government in Dublin.
- 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.
- How this should be funded.
- 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