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Challenge on ensuring representation at local and European (EU) level

Challenge on ensuring representation at local and European (EU) level. Killian Forde, CEO - The Integration Centre. My Perspective. As a current manager of NGO As a former City Councillor As a former party employee As someone who has lobbied and been lobbied As a community activist.

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Challenge on ensuring representation at local and European (EU) level

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  1. Challenge on ensuring representation at local and European (EU) level Killian Forde, CEO - The Integration Centre DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  2. My Perspective • As a current manager of NGO • As a former City Councillor • As a former party employee • As someone who has lobbied and been lobbied • As a community activist DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  3. Characteristic of Irish politicians • White • Born in Ireland • Male • Middle aged • Catholic • Middle class • Able bodied • Hetrosexual • Settled DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  4. But……. • Ireland is a diverse country • 17% not born here. • 51% female • 6% non white • 15% non Catholic • 60% working class • 9% people with disablity • 2,000,000 25 – 44 year olds DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  5. Diversity in Political Parties Project (EIF) • In 2009 four out of 1,627 councillors • Low members - 1% to 3% reported • Low turnout. Polish @ 5% in 2009 • Ignorance in how to engage • High levels of volunteerism • Not being targeted • Not approaching parties • Difficult to accommodate • Parties want migrants to show DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  6. Party Culture. • Passive recrutiment • There to contribute • Failure to absorb or retain non traditonal • Understaffed • Underfunded • Little experience • Legacy of failure - with women • Reluctance to change • Targeting of easier sectors • Rigid party structure and activities DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  7. Remember • Parties and politicians are benign • Phonebooks make bad lobbying documents • Sell your constituency • Voters are their customers • Offer solutions • Help them understand • Help them understand • Help them understand • Help them understand!!! DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  8. Sites of struggle • Political parties at local level • Resident groups • Sports groups • Local issue groups • Local forums, policing JPCs, Integration forum, community forum • NGO groups • Internet – blogs/webpages DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  9. Quiz time Upon election the first responsibility of any politician is………? DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

  10. Answer To get themselves re-elected Thank you. Questions and Comments welcomed. DFI National Conference 2014: Citizen Engagement - Local Government for Local People

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