Cumann Comhairlí Contae is Cathrach
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY COUNCILS
(formerly known as the General Council of County Councils)
Report from Cllr. Bill Carey, ACCC delegate to CLRAE 4 June 2008
Just an small report on our first meeting of the new session of Congress.
2 of the new members turned up with myself and Joe Conway was substitue for Mr Purcell.
First of all it was great having a full team for the first time in over 2 years.
The first business was the election of a new President Mr Yavuz Mildon of Turkey, and then the election of vice presidents.
Mr Mildon has been very friendly to Ireland all along and he is of great assistance to me and wants to involve us more in the workings of Congress.
For the last few years I was ploughing a lone furrow there or so I thought , but Mr Mildon had noted every time I made a contribution and wants me to prepare statements on the power lines and the operation of the regional authorities in Ireland.
I feel that our Regional Authorities will be looked at in relation to their authonomy and election.
I am surprised that the minister hasnt looked at them, instead of elected Mayors.
During the sessions all 4 of us made contributions on topics such as ---Regional public finance policies, the need for Regionaql cultural identity, Local and Regional democracy, and Children in the cities, and a very topical and sore subject for us ------Improving the integration of migrants through local housing policy.
I feel it was the best session I attended and I needed the 2 years extra to find my way around, and I was able to help the new members around, Emer Costelloe, and Shiela Casey will be good members,and as Mr Purcell was not there,Joe Conway filled in at the last minute.
As we are one of the smallest delegations it is important that all of us attend. It was difficult during the last two years, as there were only 2 of us there at most meetings. As there are only 3 meetings a year we should have a full delegation.
Our Ambassador Mrs Hennessey came to the Congress to meet us for lunch and was very delighted to meet us.
She gave instructions for the Irish Parlimentary rooms to be opened for us, and this will be a great help in the future.
I was invited as leader of the Irish delegation to a recption in the Turkish Embassy the mark Mr Mildons Presidency and I brought Emer and Shiela along where we also had a great chat with Mr Terry Davis the General Secretary of the Council of Europe.
2 of the new members turned up with myself and Joe Conway was substitue for Mr Purcell.
First of all it was great having a full team for the first time in over 2 years.
The first business was the election of a new President Mr Yavuz Mildon of Turkey, and then the election of vice presidents.
Mr Mildon has been very friendly to Ireland all along and he is of great assistance to me and wants to involve us more in the workings of Congress.
For the last few years I was ploughing a lone furrow there or so I thought , but Mr Mildon had noted every time I made a contribution and wants me to prepare statements on the power lines and the operation of the regional authorities in Ireland.
I feel that our Regional Authorities will be looked at in relation to their authonomy and election.
I am surprised that the minister hasnt looked at them, instead of elected Mayors.
During the sessions all 4 of us made contributions on topics such as ---Regional public finance policies, the need for Regionaql cultural identity, Local and Regional democracy, and Children in the cities, and a very topical and sore subject for us ------Improving the integration of migrants through local housing policy.
I feel it was the best session I attended and I needed the 2 years extra to find my way around, and I was able to help the new members around, Emer Costelloe, and Shiela Casey will be good members,and as Mr Purcell was not there,Joe Conway filled in at the last minute.
As we are one of the smallest delegations it is important that all of us attend. It was difficult during the last two years, as there were only 2 of us there at most meetings. As there are only 3 meetings a year we should have a full delegation.
Our Ambassador Mrs Hennessey came to the Congress to meet us for lunch and was very delighted to meet us.
She gave instructions for the Irish Parlimentary rooms to be opened for us, and this will be a great help in the future.
I was invited as leader of the Irish delegation to a recption in the Turkish Embassy the mark Mr Mildons Presidency and I brought Emer and Shiela along where we also had a great chat with Mr Terry Davis the General Secretary of the Council of Europe.