9 Irish finalists shortlisted for European Innovation in Politics Awards
Dublin City University's School of Law and Government is the Irish partner of the Innovation in Politics Institute who administer the Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Awards.
This year, nine entries from Ireland reached the European Finals of the Awards. The Award winners will be announced in Berlin on 4th December 2019. Out of 402 submitted projects from across Europe, 80 finalists were selected by a jury of more than 1,000 citizens from all European countries. The 402 entries were submitted across 8 categories: Civilisation (arts, science, education); Democracy; Human Rights; Community (which had the highest number of entries); Ecology; Prosperity; Jobs; and Quality of Life.
Professor Iain McMenamin, Head of the School of Law and Government said:
‘Dublin City University’s partnership with the Innovation in Politics Awards is a reflection of our commitment to civic and political leadership at home and internationally. These Awards contribute to strengthening democracy by demonstrating the creative and collaborative work of politicians at national and local levels.’
Deiric O Broin of the School of Law and Government commented:
‘The Awards highlight a range of examples of decisions and actions by politicians that make a real and positive difference to people and communities around Ireland. It is important to showcase examples of good politics, even more so when democracy itself is facing challenges and when trust in politics is more important than ever’.
The Irish finalists are:
Title | Outline of initiative | Politician(s) |
Longford Nua
| Longford Nua is a new mapping project using an App that Longford County Council launched seeking to challenge the status quo; to give a voice back to the people, to engage them at an early stage in the decision-making process. This approach through technology allows local people to share stories about places in Longford Town and make suggestions about how some of them could be reused. | Séamus Butler, Gerry Warnock, Joe Flaherty, John Browne, Martin Monaghan, Peggy Nolan, Gerry Hagan, Councillors Longford County Co |
Supporting people to exercise their right to vote
| Your Vote Your Voice is an easy to read guide to voting in Ireland. The guide is written in plain English and uses an accessible layout. It explains clearly the voting process in Ireland and how any person over 18 can exercise their right to vote. | Séamus Coyle, Councillor and Cathaoirleach (Chair) Monaghan County Co |
Reproductive justice | The introduction of mandatory inquests for all maternal deaths become law in July 2019, a first in Europe specifically for maternal deaths. | Clare Daly former TD and current MEP |
Moyross Training at The Bays
| The target group for The Bays Training programme is unemployed adults aged over 18, primarily from within the Moyross regeneration area of Limerick City. There is a high youth dependency rate (about 32%) in the regeneration areas of Limerick. "The Bays" training facility delivers an integrated service approach to equip unemployed residents of the Northside regeneration area of Limerick City with the skills and confidence to secure employment. | Frankie Daly, Councillor Limerick City and County Council |
Athboy Walkability and Inclusive Town Developments | Promoting Athboy as an inclusive and progressive town, Councillor David Gilroy recently led an Age-Friendly Walkability Audit in the town to address accessibility. A unique aspect of this audit was considering cognitive and sensory impairment as well as physical access issues | David Gilroy, Councillor Meath County Council |
Age Friendly Ireland
| In April 2019, Ireland became the first country ever to have a full country committed to the World Health Organisation's Age-Friendly Programme. Meath County Council takes the lead on developing Ireland as an Age-Friendly country through its establishment of an Age-Friendly Ireland local government shared service. The shared service provides support and guidance to all 31 local authorities in developing their county and city Age Friendly Programmes. | Wayne Harding, Councillor and Cathaoirleach (Chair) Meath County Co |
First time divestment from fossil fuels | The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act obliges the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to divest public money from investments in companies whose primary activity is fossil fuel exploration, extraction or processing. | Thomas Pringle, TD for Donegal |
Creative Ireland Programme
| The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-Government five-year initiative to place creativity at the centre of public policy. The core proposition of the Programme is that participation in cultural and creative activity promotes individual, community and national wellbeing. | Josepha Madigan, TD and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
A New Public Library Strategy: Our Public Library 2022
| Mr Michael Ring, TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development The new public library strategy 'Our Public Libraries 2022 “Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities' published in 2018 aims to make libraries more open, accessible, and better able to meet the needs of the public in an ever-changing society. It also seeks to improve access, use and visibility of the library, developing them as community hubs. | Michael Ring, TD and Minister for Rural and Community Development |
For further information about the awards, visit https://www.innovationinpolitics.eu/blog-post/37