The event entitled ‘Respectful Leadership – Raising the Bar’ brought together councillors and local government representatives from across Ireland to Dundalk on 7 November. Supported by the Irish Government’s Shared Island Civic Society Fund, it served to highlight the power of cross-border collaboration in strengthening local leadership and fostering peaceful, inclusive communities.
The programme featured keynote speeches including Hannah Phillips (Jo Cox Foundation Civility Commission) who highlighted the importance of civility in transforming political dialogue, while Nóirín O’Sullivan (Chair, Oireachtas Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life) addressed safeguarding democracy through respectful engagement, Dr Kelly Fincham from the University of Galway and Carla Dejonghe, a member of the Brussels Regional Parliament and the Congress of Local & Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE).
Councillors from across Ireland delved into practical themes such as fostering respectful council chambers, supporting diversity in public life, and building an inclusive political culture. They shared their personal experiences and strategies for promoting respectful leadership and constructive political discourse at all levels of local government.
Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon, AILG President, reflected: “This initiative showcased the power of cross-border co-operation in fostering dialogue and learning. It demonstrated the value of respectful leadership in driving positive change. Together, we’ve taken steps towards building a more inclusive and respectful political environment.”
Cllr Alison Bennington, NILGA President, added: “The intimidation and abuse of councillors and elected representatives undermine democracy, discouraging members from effectively representing their communities and deterring individuals from standing for election. This event provided a valuable platform to explore new pathways to effective leadership through dialogue, relationship-building, partnership, and shared learning.”
The event concluded with an outline of plans for joint training programmes and webinars on political literacy, the development of best practice guidance on key topics such as Councillor Security and Allyship.
New initiatives to promote diversity in leadership were also discussed, with participants proposing the establishment of an All-Ireland Women’s Regional Caucus network to foster collaboration and share best practices across the island. (Check out the special ‘Q&A’ feature with AILG President Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon in the latest issue of ‘Council Review’).
