‘Revitalising Local Government’ was the theme of the 10th Annual Public Lecture Series of UCC’s Centre for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG), which was held on 5 November.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Fergal Dennehy, stressed that in a rapidly changing globalised world, the local level is becoming more important. He also raised the issue of whether local councillors should be full-time and salaried.
Dr Aodh Quinlivan presented his CLRG Director’s Report, and also highlighted the publication of his new book, Leading the Way, which he has co-written with John Ger O’Riordan and Anne Twomey.
Pictured (l-r): Patricia Looney, Senior Executive Librarian, Cork City Libraries; Aodh Quinlivan co-author; Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy; John Ger O’Riordan, co-author and Anne Twomey co-author.
Published by Cork City Libraries and supported by Cork City Council’s Women’s Caucus and Commemorations Programme, ‘Leading the Way’ profiles 12 inspirational women who have shaped local government in Cork city. These women range from suffragettes like Anna Haslam and Susanne Rouviere Day, to the six women who have served as Lord Mayor, to the current Chief Executive in City Hall, Valerie O’Sullivan.
Cork City Council CE Valerie O’Sullivan presented her vision as to how local government might be revitalised in the second city. She highlighted Cork City Council’s proud track record of service and infrastructure delivery and argued that more could be achieved with greater resources.
Two CLRG annual awards were presented – The Jane Dowdall Undergraduate Essay Prize was awarded to a current first year student in UCC, David O’Connell. The Philip Monahan Local Government Recognition Award was presented to Paul Moynihan, who recently retired after 43 years of dedicated service in Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, discussed local government reform plans and the ongoing work of the Local Democracy Taskforce. Minister Cummins noted that elected representatives must be given greater authority, “not as an act of political generosity, but as a recognition of their important roles in society. Councillors understand local needs, aspirations, and challenges”.
Prof Colin Copus, UK academic and a former councillor, analysed the role of the local councillor in the 21st century. He criticised the centralised nature of local government in the UK and the tendency to merge councils and create large entities removed from the public. A successful evening ended with a lively questions and answers session, expertly chaired by UCC’s Professor Theresa Reidy.
Officially launched in February 2016, the Centre for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) remains the only research centre in Ireland dedicated to local government, by fostering innovative research in the areas of local and regional governance. The CLRG provides a platform where a wide variety of stakeholders including politicians, practitioners, business interests, civic society, and academics can collaborate on innovative research projects. It remains the only research centre in Ireland dedicated to local government.
