A delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, composed of rapporteurs Vladimir Prebilič (Slovenia, SOC/G/PD) and Gunn Marit Helgesen, (Norway, EPP/CCE), carried out a monitoring visit to Dublin and County Meath on 4-5 April 2023 to assess the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Ireland since the previous monitoring report adopted by the Congress in 2013. A second part of the visit is scheduled for early May. They were accompanied by Dr. Anders Lidström, member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Sweden).
The Congress delegation had exchanges of views with the Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell, the Speaker of Parliament, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, and the Chairman of the National Audit and Scrutiny Committee, Michael McCarthy. A meeting was also held with the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner for Ireland.
In addition, the rapporteurs met with the Irish delegation to the Congress, the Leader of Meath County Council, as well as Irish associations of local and regional authorities.
Contact: Stéphanie Poirel, Tel: +33 (0) 3 90 21 51 84
Ireland ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 2002. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires the implementation of a minimum set of rights which form the essential basis of local self-government in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures that these principles are respected in the 46 Council of Europe member states.
