Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made 20 appointments from political, religious and civic backgrounds to a new task force which will examine ways of encouraging more people to get involved in voluntary and community activities, writes Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent
The Task Force on Active Citizenship has been given nine months to produce a report aimed at helping shape public policy in a way which facilitates and encourages greater engagement by people in all aspects of life, as well as promoting a strong civic culture. The Taoiseach's decision to establish the group has been prompted by concern over reports of falling levels of civic engagement and volunteerism across the country.
Yesterday, Mr Ahern announced the appointment of politicians, religious leaders, senior civil servants and volunteers in voluntary and community groups.
Some of the individuals involved in the community and voluntary sector include Seán Kelly, outgoing president of the GAA, Fr Harry Bohan, founder of the Céifin Centre which campaigns for values-led change, and Dr Mary Redmond, co-founder of The Wheel, a national network connecting community and voluntary organisations.
Employers and unions are represented through David Begg, general secretary of Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and John Trethowan, Business in the Community Ireland, while senior civil servants include Gerry Kearney, secretary general at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and Dermot McCarthy, secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Ahern said Irish society risked being "impoverished" as a result of falling levels of civil involvement. "During decades when the capacity of the State was limited by a lack of resources, it was the commitment of the Irish people that so often, formally and informally, provided social services, community leadership as well as a sporting and cultural life for our people," Mr Ahern said. "Today, when the scarcest resource of all is time, this role of active participation is being devolved to fewer and fewer people."
The establishment of a task force is seen by some political observers as an attempt to address a growing sense of unease over some aspects of the country's rapid economic growth, such as longer commuting times, rampant consumerism and a growing sense of alienation and isolation in the community.
The following is the full membership of the Task Force on Active Citizenship
Mary Davis, chief executive, Special Olympics Ireland (chairwoman)
David Begg, general secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
John Bennett, disability officer, University College Dublin
Harry Bohan, Diocese of Killaloe and Céifin Centre for Values-led Change
Elaine Bradshaw, chairwoman, Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee
Caroline Casey, chief executive, The Aisling Foundation
Mary Cunningham, director, National Youth Council of Ireland
Arthur Duignan, assistant director, CREATE - the national arts support organisation
Cllr John Gallahue, governing body, Limerick Institute of Technology
Gerry Kearney, secretary general, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Seán Kelly, outgoing president, GAA
Maighréad Uí Mháirtín, cathaoirleach, Foras na Gaeilge
Seamus McAleavey, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Dermot McCarthy, secretary general, Department of the Taoiseach
Bernadette McMahon, Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice
Sylvia Meehan, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
Bobby Molloy, former TD and minister
Venerable David Pierpoint, Archdeacon of Dublin
Mary Redmond, Arthur Cox and co-founder, The Wheel - the community and voluntary sector network
John Trethowan, Business in the Community Ireland