Congratulations yet again to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on another failure to adequately include the public in our national climate plans. The department that has responsibility for the Aarhus convention as well as most consultations to do with climate change and the environment. You would think they would get it right! … More Non Consultation is Key
Clare PPN Public Participation Network received the following invite on January 17th: Please see attached invitation to participate in an up-coming workshop “Wave Energy in Ireland: Considering the future – Perspectives on Policy”. This event which is being co-ordinated by SmartBay Ireland and the MaREI Centre, UCC will take place on the 26th January 2017 at … More Marine Energy policy in Ireland
I became aware of this potentially subversive proposal within the Public Participation Networks PPNs over the Christmas period and I didn’t know what to do about it. Anyone I mentioned it to had a similar reaction as I did – it’s very suspicious. It is not sitting easy with me and I am one for trusting my gut … More Eirgrid, the PPNs and “What is Participation in our Energy Transition?”
As some of you will know I have spent the past number of years advocating for the People’s Energy Charter request for comprehensive public participation in Ireland’s National Energy Transition Plan. A brief synopsis of the outcome is here and more in-depth report on my work is here. The questions everybody asks are “What is … More Proposal for Comprehensive Public Participation in Irelands National Energy Transition Plan
Submission to The Draft Consultation Principles/Guidance To The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D The public have a right to participate and with that right comes responsibility. Unfortunately this responsibility may not be known, acknowledged, nurtured or facilitated. My experience has taught me that it very often takes a shock or a false … More Submission to The Draft Consultation Principles/Guidance
I have observed major issues with Irelands development process during my time as an active citizen in the past 8 years. The government and developers approach is generally to plan and then find out how to manipulate the system and people to allow their plan come to fruition. There is also an apathy within the … More Have your say in how government consults you
My proposal is to host a national conversation akin to the ideal community conversation by bringing representatives of all of the national bodies of organisations with branches throughout the country to a workshop together and encourage them to replicate the workshop in communities all around the country.
I emphasised the importance of having the farming community at the table. The fact is that if farmers need to keep their methane emissions high sacrifices will have to made elsewhere and that will take a collaborative approach. It may be that a local anaerobic digester will cut out fossil fuel heating for some area of their town bringing the communities collective emissions down. … More Meeting Minister White – April 2015
On Friday last April 4th I was part of a delegation from Open Government Partnership, OGP that met with officials from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, DECLG. I wasn’t quite sure what the purpose of the meeting was only that the agenda was the Aarhus Convention and Citizen Engagement. Aarhus was pretty concise – … More Public Participation and the Irish System
Another productive week 🙂 Yesterday, April 2nd 2014, the People’s Energy Charter got commitment from officials at the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources to work with us on a comprehensive public participation model for national energy policy consultations. It has the potential to be a pivotal meeting in Irish energy policy. There is … More Comprehensive Public Participation
