Agenda and minutes

Cllr. Ray McAdam was nominated by Cllr. Naoise Ó Muiri and seconded by Cllr.

Deirdre Heney.

Order: Cllr. Ray McAdam was unanimously elected as Chair of the Protocol Committee.

Cllr. Dermot Lacey was nominated by Cllr. Deirdre Heney and seconded by Cllr. Naoise Ó Muiri.

Order: Cllr. Dermot Lacey was unanimously elected as Vice Chair of the Protocol Committee.

Order: Minutes Agreed.

Order: Receptions Noted.

Ciara O hAodha gave an update to the Members on developments in International

Relations and the ongoing work that was taking place in relation to Friendship and

Twinning Agreements. A copy of the report is attached to these minutes.

Order: Report Noted.

Ciara O hAodha gave a briefing to the Members on the background to the change in policy which was as a result of a legal challenge taken against the HSE, DCC and the Attorney General. Following the legal challenge the HSE issued new guidelines which stated that a venue could hold both religious and civil ceremonies. Consequently, DCC was obliged to make City Hall available for religious ceremonies.  

Assistant Law Agent Samantha Gill confirmed that the HSE and the Attorney General had entered into a settlement agreement and the matter was now closed and there was no route for appeal.

The Members expressed their disappointment that they were not consulted or informed about the proceedings in advance of the decision. This point was acknowledged by the Assistant Law Agent who apologised and confirmed that it would be taken on board for the future.

The Members, while supportive of City Hall being made available to all citizens, were concerned that the change in policy would reduce the number bookings available for Civil Ceremonies and that it would also lead to other religious ceremonies taking place in City Hall. The Manager informed Members that there had not been an influx in requests for religious ceremonies since the change and that the policy is solely concerned with wedding ceremonies and excludes all other forms religious rites. There would also be guidelines for the management of events in City Hall including wedding ceremonies and Councillors would be consulted in the reviewing and updating of these.

Order: Report noted. It was agreed that a City Hall Sub-Committee be established to provide Councillors an opportunity to be consulted on matters relating to City Hall. List for next meeting.

Order: This item was deferred to the October meeting of the Protocol Committee.

30/09/2024      International Recovery Day  

06/10/2024      European Carers Day

15/10/2024      Wave of Light for Babyloss Awareness Day 

19/10/2024      Dysautonomia Awareness Month     

24/10/2024      Bram Stoker Festival (DCC supported event)

25/10/2024      Occipital Neuralgia Awareness Day

25/10/2024      Postural Tachycardia Syndrome         

01/11/2024      Alzheimer’s Awareness

03/12/2024      International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Order: The following lighting requests for City Hall were approved:

·         30/09/2024      International Recovery Day

·         06/10/2024      European Carers Day

·         24/10/2024      Bram Stoker Festival

·         01/11/2024      Light the World in Teal

·         03/12/2024      International Day of Persons with Disabilities

It was also agreed that the process for determining which requests were approved would be considered at the next meeting   

Councillors Dermot Lacey & Danny Byrne: “MacGill Summer School” 18-20^th July 2024.  Highland Hotel, Glenties, County Donegal.

Councillors Dermot Lacey & Danny Byrne: “MacGill Summer School” 18-20th July 2024.  Highland Hotel, Glenties, County Donegal.

Order: Reports Noted. The Manager also agreed to provide guidance to Group Leaders regarding the Training and Conference Allowance available to Members.

·         Decarbonising Dublin Summit on 14th November 2024 – details available here https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/decarbonising-dublin-summit

·         Annual attendance at the MacGill Summer School, Glenties, County Donegal from 2024 until 2029.

·         Decarbonising Dublin Summit on 14th November 2024

·         Annual attendance at the MacGill Summer School, Glenties, County Donegal from 2024 until 2029.

Order: Agreed

Order: Agreed

Order: Correspondence noted

It was proposed by Cllr. Cat O’Driscoll and seconded by Cllr. Ray McAdam that the Women’s Committee be re-established.

Order: Agreed.

·         Female Participation in Local Government

·         Use of City Hall for Party Political Media Events

·         Request from RTE to take stock photographs at the beginning of a Council meeting

·         The Manager reported that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage provided funding to the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) to carry out research in relation the experience of women who were elected to local government in 2019, including those who intended to run in 2024 and those who did not. The aim of the research was to assess whether measures introduced to encourage women to participate in local government had an impact and to establish an evidence base to address outstanding challenges facing women in local government.  

Order: It was agreed to refer the findings of this research to the Women’s Committee for consideration.

·         The Manager reminded Members that while City Hall is a political institution it should not be used for Party Political Media Events. The Members expressed concern over this policy.

Order: It was agreed to refer this issue to the City Hall Committee for consideration once it was established.   

·         The Manager informed Members that RTE has requested permission to obtain some stock footage and photos from the beginning of the Council meeting for future media pieces.

Order: Agreed.  

Cllr. Flynn requested that his emergency motion to the September Council meeting regarding Commemorative Naming and Plaques be listed for the next meeting of the Protocol Committee, as indicated by the Lord Mayor.

Order: Agreed.

Options for Meeting times:

a)    8am

b)    9.30am

c)    2.30pm

Proposed Meeting dates for 2024 and 2025:

·         24^th October 2024

·         21^st November 2024

·         19^th December 2024

·         30^th January 2025

·         20^th February  2025

·         27^th March 2025

·         1^st May 2025

·         29^th May 2025

·         26^th June 2025

·         24^th July 2025

·         25^th September 2025

·         23^rd October 2025

·         27^th November 2025

·         18^th December 2025

Order: The following meeting dates were agreed and the meeting time was set at 9.30am for the next twelve months, with the option to review.

·         24th October 2024

·         21st November 2024

·         19th December 2024

·         30th January 2025

·         20th February 2025

·         27th March 2025

·         1st May 2025

·         29th May 2025

·         26th June 2025

·         24th July 2025

·         25th September 2025

·         23rd October 2025

·         27th November 2025

·         18th December 2025