Meetings
Third Meeting: 25 - 26 June 2022
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]
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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
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10.45 a.m.      The reality of devolution – Bertie Ahern
11 a.m.          Q&A (questions from the previous session, moderated by the Chairman)
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11.30 a.m.     Coffee
11.45 a.m. Â Â Â Â Â 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. Â Â Â Â Q&AÂ (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 IAGÂ
2 p.m.            Roundtable discussion
2.30 p.m.       Q&A
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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
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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