Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together.

I announced my intention last April to establish a task force on active citizenship. We have received hundreds of expressions of interest in the task force and its work, and a large number of requests to be appointed members. These came from a variety of people from different parts of society — the voluntary sector, business, academics, public servants and many others.

A secretariat was also established in my Department to review current trends in civic participation in Ireland and consider the latest national and international research in this policy area. The secretariat has met with a wide variety of groups including, for example, the TCD centre for non-profit management, the business in the community organisation, practitioners of the US Asset Based Community Development Institute, the community policing unit in the Garda and the National Economic and Social Forum.

It has also attended a large number of relevant seminars and events including the Dublin Docklands Authority conference on active citizenship in the docklands, a seminar on the role of social capital in integrating immigrant communities, a Royal Irish Academy conference on volunteering and philanthropy, the national adult literacy week active citizenship through literacy conference and the directors of services in local government annual conference.

This work carried out by the secretariat will greatly inform and assist the task force in its consideration of active citizenship across different areas of Irish life. It has also been of great assistance in deciding on the membership of the task force.

I am now pleased to announce that Mary Davis, chief executive officer, Special Olympics Ireland, has agreed to chair the task force on active citizenship. I am waiting until I have responses from all the other proposed members before I announce the full membership of the task force, but I hope to be in a position to do so later this week.

Mary Davis began her own association with Special Olympics Ireland as a volunteer and her success in capturing the enthusiasm of a nation will, I have no doubt, inspire critical debate on the importance of promoting a renewed sense of pride in community, in our sense of place and in working together to improve the lives of all our citizens. From her wealth of practical experience, her personal drive and commitment, Ms Davis is ideally placed to guide the task force as it examines the policies and measures that would help to inspire and foster the ethos of civic responsibility and engagement in modern Ireland.

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