Dr. Bríd Quinn:

A Chathaoirligh, a Sheanadóirí agus a chomhpháirtithe, is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo inniu. Tréaslaím leis an gcoiste as an obair iontach atá á déanamh aige chun iniúchadh a dhéanamh agus bonn a chur faoin daonlathas áitiúil.

I thank the Chairperson, Senators and co-presenters for the opportunity to speak today and contribute to this important work. I congratulate the committee on its championing of local democracy and efforts to assure its future. Before focusing on the future of local democracy, like other contributors it is worth reflecting on the past and present situation regarding local government and local democracy in Ireland. We have had so many documents, declarations and reports on local government from the White Paper in 1971, the Barrington report of 1991, all the documents that led to the reforms of 2014 and so on. All of them have recognised the problems and issues that exist with regard to local government and local democracy. The shortcomings and issues have been documented and debated but there has been a continual problem with implementation.

I will read a quote and one might wonder if it is a quote from a submission to this committee:

... a sort of inverse relationship [exists] between the volume of discussion about reform and the extent of the action resulting from this... it looked as if decisions and real action were about to be taken this proved to be an illusion and a further period of stagnation ensued.

That is not a quote from 2024; that was the Minister of State for the environment with responsibility for local government in 1991, a certain Mr. Flynn from Mayo. Almost a quarter of a century later, that assessment is valid.

However, I am cognisant that many reforms have been put in place and have improved structures, relationships and so on. It is evident from other contributions this morning that the landscape of local government and local democracy is still beset by problems regarding the role and remit of local government and its form, functioning and finance. We have highlighted the centralised nature of Ireland's governance system, the diminution of the role of local authorities, the unrealistic demands, imperfect conditions and often negative public perception of councillors' roles. Furthermore, research by the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, Fórsa, the National Women's Council and academics finds concerns expressed by politicians and researchers about falling turnout, gender parity, ethnic representation and so on.

There is a consensus in all of this that strengthening local democracy is the only way forward.

That brings me on to the comprehensive review of our system of local government carried out by the Council of Europe last year. It said Ireland's local government has a more limited set of functions, represents a smaller share of public affairs and can only marginally influence the size of its resources. Moreover, and we are here in Leinster House today, it referred to the enduring tendency of central government to mistrust and oversee local government. On a positive note, the report also recognised that there is a genuine ambition at the top level of government to reform the system of local government, and today's meeting is an indication of that commitment.

I will skip over the parts I have prepared about the changing context, given we are all aware of that.

In looking to the future, I have a few suggestions relating to the form, functioning and financing. I suggest we implement the recommendations made in the Council of Europe report, which sets an agenda for reform. We should start where we are, perhaps strengthening the role of the municipal districts, which, observed both on the ground and academically, seem to be making a positive impact. As Councillor Sheahan said, we need to address the regional conundrum. We have a patchwork of regional public bodies with unco-ordinated administrative geographies, some with overlapping roles, and we need to address this. Furthermore, the structural links from regional assemblies to national level are ad hocand weak. We need to expand the concept of delivery boards, such as the one that is being introduced in Limerick, and maybe put in place mandatory consultative forums to facilitate engagement between national and local government.

Moving on to functions, we need to expand the functions carried out at local government. I was involved in the Dublin Citizens' Assembly, which came through with a list of 21 functions and powers that could and should be within the remit of local government. We need to involve our citizens more, for which there are so many examples from all over the world, such as the UK and its property technology scheme, Helsinki with cyclists and identifying roads that need repair, and others involved in participatory budgeting, some of which we have here. We need to avail of the opportunities provided by technology to enhance local democracy. Again, I cannot go into detail on those.

Of course, overall, unless local government is adequately and consistently financed, its underpinning of local democracy will be impeded because of the inability to provide service and respond to local needs, local visions and local ideas.

We are in Dublin, where Sean O'Casey's Joxer said the world was in “a state of chassis". Politically and democratically, it is, in France, the US, Ukraine and so on. Effective local democracy is a prerequisite for good governance, and good governance enables social and economic development and fosters democratic values. As we say as Gaeilge, “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine”, and local democracy is so important to achieving that work together.

As the Cathaoirleach said at the beginning, I sit on the group of independent experts with the CLRA and the Council of Europe. I worked for many years in the University of Limerick and since my retirement, I have been doing voluntary and consultancy work on local government. I again say “Comhghairdeachas”. I am delighted the committee is working on this and wish it every success. If I can contribute to its work, I will be delighted to do so.