Issue - meetings

The Manager informed the Committee that the Referenda on Family and Care are scheduled for 8^th March 2024. The closing date for the public to register to vote is 20^th February. The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 12^th February (eligibility criteria applies). The public can use the Voter.ie and Check the Register online systems to check if they are registered or to amend their details.

The Franchise section will circulate the Sharefile link tomorrow with the most up to date copy of the register. Advice on how to access the sharefile link will be included on the email. There will be one file for each LEA. The Franchise Section will also advise on voter eligibility for the referenda and Local Elections.

The Manager put forward a proposal to lock the register on 11^th April in order to provide copies of the register to all Councillors and candidates for the Local Elections. It was agreed to review this in March when the timeline for Local Elections was confirmed.

The Manager reminded Members the March Council meeting will be held in Irish. The meeting will be conducted fully through Irish and there will be live translation to English (in chamber and remote). The front pages of the agenda will be translated and available in English and Irish. 

·         There will be some meeting etiquette required – the interpreting service has suggested the following to assist them:

·         We will require cameras to be switched on when Councillors are making a contribution on Zoom – the interpreter will need this.

·         People will need to be extra vigilant in terms of switching on and off their microphone in the chamber.

·         For those remote – the interpreters have requested that wired headphones must be used for clarity (if you don’t have any we can provide them for you if you wish)

·         We have been reliably informed that people who are reading Irish do so quicker than those speaking off the cuff so we have been asked that if you are reading from a script to please take your time.

Conradhna Gaeilge will assist in translating any contributions / questions and provide one to one practice on pronunciation if required.