GREEN PARTY ANNUAL CONVENTION:THE RIGHT to petition councillors, town hall meetings for citizens, and regular plebiscites to decide important local questions form the basis of a radical overhaul of local government being drawn up by Green Party leader John Gormley, writes Harry McGeein Dundalk
Mr Gormley, the Minister for the Environment, last night unveiled some of the key components of the Green Paper on local government which will be published in 10 days' time.
Speaking at the opening of the Green Party's annual convention in Dundalk, Co Louth, Mr Gormley said it would deliver the biggest reform of local administration since 1898.
In addition to new initiatives to encourage people to become more involved in local democracy, Mr Gormley also said he proposes that the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) should have a greater role in policing councils.
The Green Paper will also propose a directly-elected mayor of Dublin with executive powers - this policy is already included in the Programme for Government.
Mr Gormley said the new measures, when implemented, would allow citizens to be centrally-involved in decisions taken at local level. "I want to see citizens given a say in budgetary decisions. There is no reason why the people should not decide what the spending priorities should be in their communities. I will be examining the increased use of plebiscites which would allow people shape major decisions to be taken by town, city and county councils."
Turning to his plans for a petition system, he said it would allow people gather signatures on pressing local issues and present them to the local council. The council would then be compelled to debate and decide the issue.
He floated the idea of town hall meetings for the first time. At these meetings, he said, councils could ask citizens for their views on certain issues and then act in accordance with them.
Mr Gormley argued that ethics laws that currently related to TDs and senators needed to be extended to councillors.
"At the moment councillors are required by law to each year declare interests and reveal any potential conflict of interest. But I believe enforcement in this area is weak. For this reason I am proposing that the Standards in Public Office Commission should have a greater role in policing local councils."
He intended to strengthen the enforcement aspect of planning laws to prevent planning decisions which were not in the best interests of communities.
The conference is the first since the Greens went into Government last June and its theme is "Vision into Action".
Mr Gormley will deliver his first address as party leader tonight.
The party's performance during its first nine months of Government will come under scrutiny. However, a majority of delegates who spoke to The Irish Timesbelieved the party's participation in Government would be overwhelmingly endorsed.
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