Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline and order of citizens' assemblies committed to in the Programme for Government. [15657/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (20)
Written answers
The current Citizens' Assembly on gender equality was established in January 2020 and, following delays caused by Covid-19, resumed its work with on-line meetings in October last year. The Assembly adapted its methods to comply with Public Health Guidelines. It held its final deliberative meeting online last weekend (17th-18th April) including voting. The results of the members’ voting on key questions are due to be announced next Saturday 24th April and the Chair’s final detailed Report will be completed by June 2021.
Under the Programme for Government, the Government aims to establish a Citizens’ Assembly in 2021 to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. This Assembly will be established with a new Chairperson and new members.
Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future Citizens' Assemblies, but any decisions in this regard will be guided by the experience of the current Assembly. An independent researcher has been appointed to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly, which will also assist in decisions on future Assemblies use of virtual meetings.
The Programme for Government provides for establishment of Citizens' Assemblies to consider biodiversity; matters relating to drugs use and the future of education. Officials from my Department are engaging with officials from the relevant Departments on the approach to be taken with regard to these Assemblies. It is envisaged that they will be established after the Dublin Mayor Citizen's Assembly has completed its work, but the specific timing of each Assembly has yet to be worked out.
Citizens’ Assemblies do very valuable work in guiding policy and giving a sense of the direction the public would like Government to take, however, they take time to set up and run, especially in these times of pandemic.
Although timing of the Citizens’ Assemblies outlined in the Programme for Government may not yet be confirmed there are ongoing and new initiatives being carried out in each important area – biodiversity, drugs and the future of education.
Questions Nos. 21 to 25, inclusive, resubmitted.