I thank everybody for attending this morning for our first public consultation on the future of local democracy. Last July, we looked for submissions from the general public, organisations and current and former members of local authorities to get their ideas and thoughts, not just on where we are at, but where we want to be into the future.
In terms of ranking and where we are as a democracy, the Global Democracy Index ranks us eighth in the world, which is something we should be greatly proud of. The United Nations Human Development Index marks us as a country that is eighth in the world in terms of health, education and income. The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index says that we are one of the least corrupt countries in the world, and it ranks us tenth. These are all things that we should keep in mind when discussing the problems and concerns we all have in regard to local democracy. We are concerned about the fact it is harder to get people to remain as public representatives. In the run-up to the local elections next June in the Republic, we are concerned about the issue of getting people to run for local democracy. Our concern into the future is that if we are struggling now to get people to run for local elections, then who will be running for the general election and who will be members of the Cabinet in the next ten or 20 years and into the future?
The year 1898 was the first time the local authorities were established. There had been different formats to run administrative areas until then, both elected and non-elected, and 125 years on, a review by the Seanad would be helpful. We are really only 100 years on from most people having the vote, with women having been given the vote in the 1918 election. From then on, changes have occurred, some good, some bad. What we will be doing in Seanad Éireann as part of this first public consultation is looking at the changes that have happened, in particular over the last 30 years, and learning from our colleagues in other jurisdictions, who are having similar challenges in Northern Ireland and across the world.
We are very mindful of the report by the Council of Europe which said that Ireland had some of the least democratic local government administrative policies and procedures, and this is a concern it has highlighted before. We are taking its concerns on board, looking at those changes and putting forward recommendations from the all-party committee. We hope the parties will take this on board as part of their manifestoes for the next general election. We need to make sure that what we are talking about here, and the recommendations and legislation that will be drafted by our drafting office, are agreed by all the members in order to make the changes that need to be made. We need to ensure we retain the talent that we have and attract new talent into local democracy, not just in an elected sense but also an administrative sense.
Until the reform of local government in 2014, we had 1,627 locally elected members. We are now down to 949, so we have lost 678 people who were locally elected and who represented the public. One of the comments I heard at the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, conference earlier this year was that we need to decide whether we are in administrative areas or local democracies. The view of many is that in the Republic we are in administrative areas and that the voices of the people who are elected are not being heard and, therefore, the citizens are not being heard. That is one of the key points that we need to make.
I will invite everybody to make their submissions shortly. First, I welcome the Leader of Seanad Éireann, Senator Lisa Chambers, who will make some opening remarks, Senator Shane Cassells, who is the rapporteur, and the members of the committee, including Senators Regina Doherty, Victor Boyhan, Frances Black, Mark Wall, Emer Currie and Pat Casey. Senators Marie Sherlock and Malcolm Byrne are also present. I also welcome, from the National Association of Councillors in Northern Ireland: Councillor Terry Andrews, immediate past chairperson; and Councillor Derek Hussey, executive committee member; from the Northern Ireland Local Government Association: Councillor Dermot Nicholl, president alternate; Councillor Alison Bennington, vice president, who will give us some of her wisdom; and Ms Alison Allen, chief executive officer; from the Local Authority Members Association: Councillor John Sheahan, general secretary; Councillor Brian Lawlor, public relations officer; Councillor Paul Taylor, public relations officer; and Councillor Sean McGowan, treasurer; and from the Association of Irish Local Government: Councillor Gail Dunne, president; Mr. Tommy Moylan, director; Councillor Jason Murphy, vice president; Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick, immediate past president; Councillor Carmel Kelly, executive member; and Councillor Paraic Brady, executive member. I thank them all for being here and for being part of this discussion.
Before we begin, I must read the following statement. I remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or that entity.
Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.
Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
As we have the Leader of Seanad Éireann here today, I will call Senator Chambers before I call the rapporteur.