Agenda and minutes

Deirdre Ni Raghallaigh made a presentation on current IT provision for Councillors d A discussion took place and the following issues were raised -

·         Hard to track archived emails if using @dublincity.ie

·         Councillors already have a system that works for them with their existing email addresses

-       Constituents have Councillors’ private email addresses and some have been using these for years

-       Councillors have their own filing systems in their private email accounts

-       There is a large amount of historical information in their private email accounts

·         Relationships that Councillors have built with officials could be lost if a public reps system was introduced

·         New Councillors should have access to the same equipment as Councillors that were re-elected

·         All Councillors should be provided with, laptops, IPads and printers

·         Councillors mostly use their phones when dealing with their constituents and an IPhone or Samsung would be required for the @dublincity.ie email

·         Councillors need their own printers

·         There are often issues with printing in City Hall

·         Laptops are needed in order to type documents

·         Citrix is a problem when Councillors are using their laptops

·         IPads are useful in some situations but limited in what they can do overall

·         Debate was had about the merits of establishing a working group on IT

Order: Agreed to set up a working group on IT Provision for Councillors and for group to bring recommendations to the October meeting of the Protocol Committee.

Membership as follows

Chairperson Michael Pidgeon

Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe

Cllr Mary Callaghan

Cllr Naoise O’Muiri

Cllr Dermot Lacey

Cllr Mícheál Mac Donncha

Cllr Donna Cooney

Deirdre Ní Raghallaigh

Oliver Douglas

Stephen Patterson

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed and recommend to Council

·        Cllr Catherine Stocker, Mercy Law Resource Centre, Training for County Councillors on Housing Law, Wednesday 25th September 2019

Mercy Law Resource Centre, Training for County Councillors on Housing Law, Wednesday 25th September 2019

Order: Approved. Recommend to Council.

·         Cllrs Patricia Roe, Mary Callaghan and Deirdre Conroy, AILG Induction Training 2019, Mullingar Park Hotel, County Westmeath, 11^th July 2019.  

·         Cllrs Deirdre Conroy, Mary Freehill, Joe Costello and Dermot Lacey, MacGill Summer School, “A Global Crisis – Can the Centre Hold”, Highland Hotel, County Donegal, 21^st – 26^th July 2019.

·         Cllrs Patricia Roe, Mary Callaghan and Deirdre Conroy, AILG Induction Training 2019, Mullingar Park Hotel, County Westmeath, 11^th July 2019.  

·         Cllrs Deirdre Conroy, Mary Freehill, Joe Costello and Dermot Lacey, MacGill Summer School, “A Global Crisis – Can the Centre Hold”, Highland Hotel, County Donegal, 21^st – 26^th July 2019.

Order: Noted that AILG training does not require approval at Protocol Committee.

·         Cllrs Deirdre Conroy, Mary Freehill, Joe Costello and Dermot Lacey, MacGill Summer School, “A Global Crisis – Can the Centre Hold”, Highland Hotel, County Donegal, 21^st – 26^th July 2019.

Order: Noted. Recommend to Council.

That this protocol committee agrees that Dublin city will join the  Cities for Adequate Housing Declaration, a worldwide commitment to the right to housing.

The Declaration is based on a clear commitment to promote renewed housing strategies, and to do it in terms of social inclusion and human rights standards. Signatory cities, organizations and individuals share this common diagnosis. They also commit to implement local actions and policies to advance the right to housing. Signatory local and regional governments may further join the global Community of Practice rallying cities for housing: a space within the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) to exchange experiences, elaborate policy recommendations and organize joint advocacy action.

A copy of the declaration is attached, for more information see citiesforhousing.org

Motion

That this protocol committee agrees that Dublin city will join the Cities for Adequate Housing Declaration, a worldwide commitment to the right to housing.

The Declaration is based on a clear commitment to promote renewed housing strategies, and to do it in terms of social inclusion and human rights standards. Signatory cities, organizations and individuals share this common diagnosis. They also commit to implement local actions and policies to advance the right to housing. Signatory local and regional governments may further join the global Community of Practice rallying cities for housing: a space within the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) to exchange experiences, elaborate policy recommendations and organize joint advocacy action.

Order: Motion not taken as Cllr Costello was not in attendance

Order: Noted

Loan of the Chain of the Court of Conscience to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for exhibitions to be held October 2019 – January 2020 and February 2020 – May 2020.

Order: Agreed.  Recommend to Council.

Order: Agreed that the Arts Office should continue to discuss the matter.  Policy regarding gifts to be discussed at future meetings of this Committee.

A 2014 Circular recommended that Councillors should not sit on Area Partnership boards.  Copy of circular to be forwarded to Councillors on Committee.

Order: It was agreed to hold the next meeting on 24^th October.