Mr. Daithí de Róiste:

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Ar dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht an deis a bheith os a chomhair. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go bhfuilimid ag caint faoi thodhchaí an daonlathais, go háirithe sa chathair seo.

As the 355th Lord Mayor of Dublin, it is both an honour and privilege to be here to address this gathering on the future of local democracy. As I stand here, I am conscious as we talk about the future that I represent a position which has been in place as mayor since 1229 and Lord Mayor since 1665. Local democracy lies at the heart of our democratic system and serves as a bedrock on which our communities are built and people's voices are heard. It is within the chambers of our local councils that the concerns and aspirations of our constituents find expression. It is where decisions are made that have a direct impact on the lives of those we serve in communities and, from our perspective, that is communities across Dublin. The future of local democracy hinges upon our collective commitment to fostering greater transparency, inclusivity and engagement with local government structures. We must strive to create environments where all voices are valued, diversity is embraced and decision-making processes are accessible and accountable to the communities they serve. We have moved away from that in recent years and we need to pivot back towards those kinds of voices.

We must redouble our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in our local councils to ensure they are reflective of the society they serve. By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive political culture, we will be better able to address the needs of the communities we represent, especially those that have been historically marginalised or under-represented. I will talk a little about a charter of inclusion for Dublin. The charter has not yet been launched - we did the photocall this morning - but we will be talking about it a lot in the coming month or so. The whole idea is to look at how we can make local democracy more inclusive. How can we encourage people to serve their local communities?

With its rich history and diverse population, Dublin has always been a city of inclusivity and warmth. We recognise there is more work to be done, especially when it comes to the lived experience of the céad míle fáilte we talk about so often. In today's rapidly changing world, the imperative for inclusion in local democracy has never been more urgent. It is not enough to pay lip service to diversity. We must actively work to dismantle barriers, challenge biases and create opportunities for all. The charter to which I referred is the result of an extensive collaboration with 30 young people from diverse backgrounds across Dublin. It reflects the voices, experiences and aspirations from every corner of our city, where each perspective has been carefully considered and integrated into our charter for a more inclusive Dublin. Over the course of a two-day workshop, these impassioned change-makers came together to co-create a document from scratch that reflects the rich tapestry of Dublin's multicultural landscape. At its heart are the core values that resonate deeply with Dublin's spirit, including belonging and common humanity, dignity and respect, equality of opportunity, communal accountability, freedom, accessibility, safety and safeguarding. These principles serve as guiding beacons for our local democracy and illuminate a path towards a city where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered to take part in local democracy. Sets of associated behaviours are listed alongside.

After the local elections, it is my since hope that these values and behaviours will be embedded in our council and govern the work of our strategic policy committees. As we present the charter for adoption by Dublin City Council at its next meeting, we do so with a sense of optimism and determination because in our hands lies the power to shape the future of our city, a future where no one is left behind, we are kind to one another and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It is important, as we are invited to appear before this committee and as we look forward to the idea of inclusion for everyone, that I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to this endeavour. Their passion, dedication and unwavering belief in the potential of our city and in serving our communities have been the driving forces behind this document. From what I have seen from the young people who took part, our city's future is in really safe hands.

Democracy is not just about having a vote; it is about our civic duty to participate and be actively involved in the decisions that affect our lives. The more diverse and inclusive we are as a city, the better for the future of our local democracy.