How local is our democracy?

LEIXLIP, 9 July, 2001: OPINION by Mike Parle. With the Irish General Elections next year, and Local Elections in 2004, lets get an open debate going on the health of local democracy.

Two reasons say why it will affect you:

1. The passing of the new Local Government Bill through the Dail
2. The imminent publication of the Draft Development Plan for the town of Leixlip

The recent voter turnout for the Nice Treaty referendum was too low. There is now no doubt that this democratic outcome is a major challenge to the main political parties in Ireland and politicians throughout Europe. The plain people of Ireland have been allowed to have their say. Are we not very fortunate to have an Irish Constitution to protect our rights?

Individual citizen now believe that their individual input can make little or no difference to:

* The outcome of an election / referendum
* the policy that will be pursed by the successful candidates and or their parties

They feel very far away from where the real power lies. They have a sense of helplessness and powerlessness. This is clearly an unacceptable situation, which must be damaging to the basic fabric of democracy itself.

Many readers will have some knowledge of and appreciation for the essence of democracy. "Government of the people, by the people, for the people." Its origins lie in ancient Greece, in the city of Athens. It was there some 2,500 years ago that the Greek word "demokratia" was conceived and born as a new revolutionary governmental solution to handle a revolutionary political situation. It gave Athenians say in their future system of government. This eliminated a ‘them and us’ situation. The people ruled themselves. This democratic process unleashed on the city potentials within their society that could not be made in any other way. This unique system of government created citizens that "excelled all others in versatility, resourcefulness and brilliance." Democracy gave the Athenians a great advantage over others in unleashing talents, powers, opportunities that other cultures simply couldn’t match.

Sadly since then many of the key elements of democracy have been hijacked, in order to satisfy personal private agendas of powerful politicians and political parties. The remoteness of the ruling body of the EU proves that a move away from the ordinary people has taken place. This is reflected in our current voting behavior.

To conclude I wish to make a case in respect of local democracy here in Leixlip. Leixlip has had a Local Authority (Town Commissioners) for 13 years. It is only on the first rung of the (British) Local Authority ladder, with very modest powers and budgets. Kildare County Council runs Leixlip and administers its services from Naas.

On KCC the 2 Leixlip Councilors only have 8% of any vote concerning key issues for our town. No matter how strongly they feel about a particular issue, people (i.e. a major political party) who may not understand a local issue can always outvote them. This is dangerous.

This is no different than the gerrymandering strategy adopted by Unionist in Northern Ireland pre-1970 in order to manipulate the outcome of a vote.

Further danger lies in current proposed enabling legislation to give certain powers to non-elected County Managers to site Incinerators and Waste Management facilities wherever they choose, to deal with the challenge of waste management. He will decide where a waste management facility can go, regardless of the County Development Plan. This is a serious threat, way and beyond that of any other planning matter.

Another related issue is of similar national importance:

Under the Planning Act 2000 Legislation County Managers will be able to decide on issues and effectively make a County Plan if the five-year statutory period for making them is exceeded. What does that mean? How many dumps did officials try to bring in, only to have disagreement amongst the councilors scupper it? Now such disagreements will not be able to hold up the siting of a dump because the manager can make the plan to include one, if the councilors do not decide in time.

A legal challenge could be more effective than the usual appeal to TDs who have to toe the party line.

This is about our heritage and our environment and what we're doing to protect it. This goes to the heart of political accountability [the recent unseemly and disastrous haste to push the Nice referendum through being symptomatic], sustainability and what we're leaving our children is the key. Is it to be that a once beautiful little island with its own currency, language and culture is to be reduced to a homogenised dump for the rest of Europe? Its seas fished out by people with no thought for future fish stocks, and its countryside covered with high density [20 to the acre] housing estate ghettos?

The new Local Government Bill is squandering a once in a lifetime opportunity to give towns like Leixlip the necessary powers and fund raising capability to run its own affairs. Just like the ancient city-state of Athens.

By contrast with true democracy it is the intention of the government bill to abolish Town Commissions, Urban District Councils and Borough Councils – replacing them with new bodies called Town Councils. This is a grave blow to local democracy and the community and voluntary sector scuppering UDC towns like Athy and Naas. Towns like Leixlip who are now very experienced in the operation of Local Government are to be denied promotion with enhanced powers! With many years’ experience, we are not to be trusted to run the affairs of our own town. This is an appalling and most threatening development for all the North Kildare towns.

If the town is to be run efficiently and effectively, in the best interests of its citizens, then it is logical to grant it the necessary legislative powers and fund raising capabilities to do that job. This is a fundamental right that the townspeople and its leaders deserve.

The Town Commission since 1988, with limited powers and even more limited funding has done excellent work. I would suggest that in a head-to-head even contest, it would leave Kildare County Council very far back down the field in its wake if measured in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

I rest my case and await free and democratic comment.

ED: Please note that views expressed under 'OPINION' on KNN are those of the writer concerned, and do not necessarily reflect the views of KNN or its proprietors. This facility is provided in the interests of free speech and public information and may be availed of either to make a point or respond to one. KNN reserves the right to edit any material submitted.