Agenda and minutes

Order: Minutes Agreed

Order: Receptions and Engagements noted.

Fanchea Gibson informed Members that she was leaving International Relations and that Alice Boardman would be taking over her role. The Members thanked Fanchea for all her hard work and welcomed Alice and wished her well in her new role.

Fanchea briefed Members on the quarterly report highlighting requests for friendship agreements, International Travel by the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor including visits to Paris, Brussels, New York and Seoul.

The Members thanked Fanchea for the report and extended their congratulations to Jamie Cudden, Nicola Graham and their team in Smart Cities for winning the Silver Award in the Human-CentriCity category of the Seoul Smart City Award with the project Academy of the Near Future.

The Members expressed their support for pursing a friendship relationship with Douglas in the Isle of Man, citing language and biodiversity as common points of interest and learning.

The Members requested that consideration be given to increasing the resources available to International Relations which had been reduced during the Covid Pandemic. The Manager agreed to bring the members views to the attention of Anthony Flynn, Assistant Chief Executive and Mary MacSweeney, Executive Manager, who have responsibility for International Relations.   

Order: Report noted.  

The Members were supportive of the initiative which could be an important tool in preventing and responding to issues of hate, extremism and polarisation at a local level.

Order: Agreed and recommended to Council

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed

The Manager informed Members on the following issues:

·         Cllr. Máire Devine had suggested the Council explore using the company FoodCloud for catering at a Council meeting. FoodCloud is a social enterprise business with a mission to transform surplus food into opportunities to make the world a kinder place. The Members welcomed the proposal which would be in place for the December Council meeting.

·         The Chief Executives Department are currently compiling the Councillor Training Program for 2024. If Members have any specific training requirements that they would like included in the program they should contact Shannon Kelly directly.

·         The Budget Information meeting will take place in 15^th November at 6.15pm and would be an online meeting only. The Budget meeting will take place on 20^th November at 6.15pm and will be a hybrid meeting, taking place in the Council Chamber and online via Zoom. 

·         The Manager notified Members that the Budget Consultative Group had been delegated the responsibility of considering the Budget on behalf of the Corporate Policy Group.

Cllr. Naoise Ó Muiri informed the Manager that there was an issue with the locking mechanism of the bike bunker on Bernardo Square. The Manager agreed to follow up with Don Daly.

Cllr. Dermot Lacey wished it be noted in the official record that today is the last day that the Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council will be a Member of the Governing Authority of University College Dublin (UCD). It was a decision of the Minister to discontinue Councillor representation of the Board of UCD.

Cllr. Flynn reported that there were significant traffic issues on Castle Street arising out of coach parking. It was becoming increasingly hazardous for members of the public crossing the street and exiting from Dublin Castle and City Hall. The Manager agreed to convey the Councillors concerns to John Flanagan, Assistant Chief Executive with responsibly for traffic.

Cllr. Flynn also raised the issue of the Irish District Energy Association Annual Conference which was being hosted by Codema on 26^th October 2023. Councillors were not invited and they were not offered a reduced entry fee. The Manager to investigate and report back to the Councillor.

Cllr. Míchéal MacDonncha noted his satisfaction with the new party rooms for Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats on the lower ground floor. However, he asked that consideration be given to relocating one of the printers from the upper floors to the lower ground level.  He also requested that the operation of the door on to Barnardo Square be assessed as it is not open on a regular basis and there are difficulties closing it from the outside. The Manager agreed to investigate these issues and report back to the Councillor.   

Cllr. Lacey requested that the report on Local Government from the Council of Europe be circulated to all Members. He informed the Committee that Ireland was one of the lowest ranked countries in relation to Local Authority Autonomy. The Manager agreed to circulate the report.

Chairperson, Cllr. Deirdre Heney requested that the Chief Executive and Head of Human Resources address Councillors on the issue of vacancies and recruitment. It is apparent to all Members that there are significant problems filling positions which is having a negative impact on service delivery. The Manager agreed to convey the Members’ request to the Chief Executive and Head of HR.      

Order: Agreed.