It is a tremendous honour to serve as President of the Association of Irish Local Government and to represent Ireland’s city and county councillors during what I believe will be one of the most important periods for local government in many years.

Having served as a councillor since 2009, I know at first hand the commitment, energy and responsibility that elected members bring to their role every day. Councillors are often the first point of contact between citizens and the State. We advocate for our communities, shape local policy, scrutinise decisions and work to secure better outcomes for the people and places we represent.

My priority as President will be to ensure that this role is strengthened, properly supported and fully recognised.

Turning Reform into Reality

The publication of the Local Democracy Taskforce Report and Government Implementation Plan represents a significant moment for Irish local government.

The focus must now move decisively from report to reality.

During my term as President, I want AILG to play a central role in ensuring that the commitments contained within the Implementation Plan translate into meaningful change at local authority level.

That means strengthening the role of elected members in decision-making; ensuring councillors have a greater influence over local policy, governance and funding priorities; strengthening Strategic Policy Committees; progressing the new Municipal Council structures; developing stronger national-local government engagement; and ensuring that decisions are taken as close as possible to the communities affected by them.

Implementation will be the real test of this reform programme.

AILG will engage constructively but consistently with Government and our partners across the local government sector to maintain momentum, monitor progress and ensure that the experience and perspective of elected members remain at the centre of implementation.

For me, success will ultimately be measured not simply by the number of recommendations implemented, but by whether councillors can see a tangible difference in their ability to represent their communities and influence the decisions affecting them.

Supporting the Changing Role of Councillors

Greater powers and responsibilities must also be accompanied by appropriate supports.

The role of the councillor has changed enormously and continues to become more complex. Councillors are increasingly expected to engage with substantial policy, regulatory and governance issues while remaining accessible and responsive representatives within their communities.

Throughout my presidency, I want AILG to continue advancing the discussion around the terms, conditions and practical supports available to elected members.

This includes remuneration, administrative and research supports, personal security, wellbeing, family-friendly supports and the resources councillors require to perform an increasingly demanding public role effectively.

These issues are also fundamental to the future of local democracy. If we want our councils to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, being a councillor must be a realistic and sustainable option for people at different stages of their lives and from different professional and personal backgrounds.

Investing in Our Members

One of AILG’s most important responsibilities is ensuring that councillors have access to high-quality training, professional development, information and support.

As the Local Democracy Taskforce reforms are implemented, that responsibility will become even more important.

During my term, I want us to continue developing a modern programme of elected member development which equips councillors for the changing nature of their role – from planning, housing and climate action to governance, finance, strategic policy development, community leadership and public communication.

I also want AILG to strengthen its research and policy capacity so that our advocacy is increasingly underpinned by strong evidence and so that members have access to practical, authoritative information when dealing with complex policy issues.

My ambition is for every councillor, regardless of political affiliation, geography or length of service, to know that they have a strong national organisation behind them providing representation, expertise and practical support.

Strengthening AILG

Delivering these ambitions will also require us to continue strengthening AILG itself.

The expectations placed on the Association have grown considerably in recent years. Our engagement with Government has expanded, our training and professional development programmes have grown, and our role in policy development, research, member support and national and international engagement continues to evolve.

The implementation of the Local Democracy Taskforce will add another substantial dimension to that work.

I therefore want my term to contribute to building an Association with the organisational capacity, expertise and resources necessary not simply to respond to change, but to help shape it.

AILG should be at the centre of the national conversation about the future of local government.

Promoting the Value of Local Democracy

I also believe we have a responsibility to tell the story of local government more effectively.

Every day, councillors and local authorities are making decisions and delivering services that directly affect people’s lives – in housing, planning, roads, community development, libraries, recreation, climate action, economic development and countless other areas.

Yet the scale and value of that work is not always fully understood.

During the year ahead, I want AILG to continue building greater public understanding of the role of councillors, the work of local authorities and, importantly, how citizens themselves can engage with and influence local democracy.

Strong local government is ultimately about strong communities.

Looking Ahead

My objective for the year ahead is clear.

I want to see the implementation of the Local Democracy Taskforce firmly underway; tangible progress on the supports and conditions available to councillors; further investment in elected member development; a stronger evidence and research base for our advocacy; and an AILG that is increasingly recognised for its expertise, leadership and influence.

We will not achieve all of this alone.

I look forward to working with our Vice President, Officer Board, Executive Committee, Plenary delegates, staff, Government, our local government partners and, above all, councillors in every local authority across the country.

We come from different political traditions, different communities and different parts of Ireland, but we share a common purpose: to serve our communities and strengthen the system of local democracy through which they are represented.

It is a privilege to serve as President of AILG, and I intend to use that privilege to help ensure that this important period of reform delivers lasting and meaningful progress for councillors, for local government and for the communities we collectively serve.

Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke
President
Association of Irish Local Government