Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. Active citizenship is a priority area for the Taoiseach and I am delighted that he has appointed me as Minister of State in his Department to lead this initiative. The Government remains committed to strengthening community activity and increasing civic engagement across all sectors of society in order to develop a nation of diversity with a sense of shared values, of belonging in the community and of pride of place in our townlands. This concept is reflected throughout the agreed programme for Government which includes a number of the recommendations of the task force on active citizenship.

I will be assisted in my active citizenship role by a steering group, especially in the areas of public policy, business and the media, chaired by Mary Davis. Today I am announcing the members of the steering group which will shortly hold its first meeting. The members of the steering group are Mary Davis, Dermot McCarthy, Gerry Kearney, Mary Cunningham, Tony Kennedy, Sr. Bernadette MacMahon, Mary Nally, Colin McCrea, Joyce O'Connor, Conor Harrison, Karin Dubsky, Paraic Duffy and Maurice Coughlan.

The active citizenship office has already been working with relevant Departments under whose remit many recommendations of the task force are to be implemented, and with various business interests in order to encourage greater connectivity to the community through this sector. Consultations have also been held with the wider educational sector with particular regard to raising awareness of the potential for service learning and volunteering. Departments have prepared updates of progress on the public policy elements of the recommendations and I am confident this progress will continue.

Having worked very closely with the community and voluntary sectors in my previous role in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, there is great good will and potential in every community to use time, skills and experience to the benefit of others. I regard active citizenship as a very positive initiative and an opportunity for everyone to become involved.

As citizens we have responsibilities not alone to family but to our immediate and wider community. An onus of duty rests with us to exercise these responsibilities in different aspects of our lives, whether by voting, social interaction in our own areas or through our business connections. We must re-emphasise the values that have sustained us over many generations, cherishing our democratic freedom, guiding our young people towards responsible adulthood, sharing our successes in education, in careers and in business with those who have been less fortunate. I look forward to the challenges in this work.

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