Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
199. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussion he and his officials had in October 2012 with a delegation from the Council of Europe regarding local government here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23419/13]
View answerI and relevant officials met a delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 4 October 2012. This was part of the periodic monitoring process undertaken by the Congress on the application of the principles in the European Charter of Local Self Government in Member States.
I understand that the delegation also had discussions with a number of other parties including local authority members and officials, Oireachtas Joint Committee members, Supreme and High Court personnel, the Ombudsman, and certain academics specialising in local government matters.
As this visit was prior to the publication of the Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which sets out Government decisions for local government reform, the delegation made a further visit to Ireland on 3 May 2013 to review the position in light of the Action Programme. The delegation again met me, and my Department and certain local government interests, including elected members’ representatives.
The Congress delegation and Secretariat have been provided with comprehensive information in relation to the Irish local government system and the local government reform programme and their report is now awaited.
