My proposing speech on local democracy motion:
That this Ard-Fheis calls for the implementation of measures that would provide for greater participation in local democracy. (Sallins Cumann, Kildare North)
Opening
Minister, Teachta Daila, Senators, A delgaidi, etc etc,
It is a great honour to address this Ard Fheis.
Intro
In proposing this motion I intend to address a twin track [...]
Just a quick update on what happened re the green space (at Sallins Pier/Sallins Wharf). The residents mounted quite a battle (a copy our petition is here) and we turned it around from majority of the area committee (4 to 1) ready to back residential zoning at start of the week to majority on the [...]
The consultation period for Sallins local area plan closed today. A number of representations I’d made to the council over the previous period were contained in the eventual draft so I was already quite pleased with the shape of the plan when it issued for consultation. Nonetheless I made a final submission today reiterating some [...]
Amidst all the furore over ministerial salaries of late, it is easy to overlook the great and grave ‘democratic deficit’ that persists at the level of local authorities.
It remains very, very difficult for ‘ordinary citizens’ to take on the role of local office. Not so much getting elected, which is a challenge in itself financially [...]