Agenda and minutes

Order: Agreed.

The Members raised the following issues in relation to the St. Patrick’s Festival:

·         Access to the unredacted report on the governance of St. Patricks Festival

·         Councillor representation on the Board

·         Greater recognition of Dublin City Councils role in supporting the Festival both financially as a sponsor but also the infrastructure of the City. 

Richard Shakespeare responded to these issues as follows:

·         The Governance report is a government document and therefore it is not within the authority of Dublin City Council to release it. A request for its release is currently with the Information Commissioner who’s decision will determine if it is made available to Councillors.

·         The request for additional Councillor representation on the Board will be considered at the AGM of St. Patrick’s Festival. Although the Lord Mayor already sits on the Board as a special Member. The executive of Dublin City Council made a decision to withdrawn its representative due a conflict of interest.

·         The Manager confirmed that Dublin City Council is a significant sponsor of the Festival, providing €398,000 in funding in 2022. The Members can have an influence on the Festival through the Memorandum of Understanding which is agreed as part of the sponsorship process. The Arts Strategic Policy Committee could provide the Members with an appropriate forum to raise issues in relation to the Festival. The Manager was happy to take on-board any recommendations from the Members in terms of what other goals they wanted to achieve through involvement in the Festival.

Order: Noted.    

·         Cllr. Declan Flanagan; AILG Module 2: Local Authority Climate Plan”. 25^th March 2023. Fairways Hotel, County Louth.

·         Cllr. Danny Byrne; AILG Annual Conference.19th-20th April 2023. Kilkenny Hotel, County Kilkenny.

·         Cllr. Danny Byrne; AGM Irish Public Bodies. 5^th May 2023. Cork County Hall.  

Order: Conference reports noted.

Order: Report Noted.

Order: Report Noted.

Order: Minutes Noted.

The Manager clarified that the Chief Executive made the remarks as part of an aside during a speech at an event in the Mansion House. The events refereed to took place 26 years ago and the Chief Executive was not a witness to them and the individuals involved are now both deceased.

The Members were satisfied with the clarification provided by the Manager.

Order: Motion not agreed.

·         International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day on 7^th October 2023

·         Palliative Care Week Campaign on 11^th September 2023

·         Colour the World Orange™ Campaign to raise awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) on 6^th November 2023

Order: Lighting requests agreed.

·         The O’Connell Plinth at City Hall

·         Correspondence Received

·         The Manager confirmed that the sculpture on the O’Connell Plinth had been removed. The Arts Officer had contacted the OPW, IMMA and the Hugh Lane Gallery and was informed that they had no art works which would be appropriate for the display on the O’Connell Plinth.

·         The Manager informed Members that Minister Simon Harris’s Office had received the Protocol Committees endorsement of the introduction of EU wide legislation to combat online abuse. He thanked the Members for bringing the motion to his attention and assured them that it has been shared with the relevant legislative officials within the Department for their consideration.

·         Cllr. Joe Costello informed Members that Sabina Higgins on behalf of the Sean O’Casey Committee had written to Dublin City Council asking the Council to investigate the commissioning of a public monument of Sean O’Casey to recognise his contribution to Irish literature.

The Manager advised that the request would be best progressed through the Arts SPC and the Commemorations and Naming Committee.

Order: The correspondence would be circulated to Members of the Protocol Committee.

·         Cllr. Alison Gilliland asked that the Manager ensure that adequate recycling facilities are in place in City Hall and also that reusable kitchenware be provided.

Order: The Manager confirmed that the issue was being addressed and that reusable plates and cutlery had been purchased. Recycling facilities were being investigated.

·         Members also expressed concern at the cleanliness level of the City and the decision to no longer collect green waste from residents who maintain their local areas.

Order: Noted.

Order: Agreed.