Citizens' parliament meets for first time in Limerick

A NEWLY established citizens' parliament has convened in Limerick for the first time.

Twenty people from across the city and county took part in the first session of the National Citizens Parliament on media and democracy.

There are similar assemblies meeting across Europe as part of this project, but Ireland is one of only two countries where the parliament will not meet in the capital city, with Limerick chosen as an alternative.

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Mary Immaculate College played host to the first meeting of the parliament, with its members recruited following a campaign in this newspaper and other media across the city and county.

The members will be sitting across the next few weekends to debate and deliberate on the future of media and democracy both in Ireland and across the world.

The aim of the parliament is to find ways of future proofing media for the protection and support of democracy.

Each sitting of the parliament will begin with an address by members of the media, academics and activists to get a clear understanding of the problems and dangers we face in these times.

Then discussions will begin on the afternoon of each sitting.

By the end of each day, the citizens formulate resolutions which will be voted on - and these will be presented to all levels of government from Limerick’s local authority right up to the European Parliament.

Indeed, two of the citizens will join representatives of the other national citizens’ parliaments in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia to present their resolutions to MEPs and members of the EU Commission in Brussels next spring.

At the first session in Limerick, Denis Wolinski, a former broadcast regulator with Britain’s media watchdog, Ofcom, and its Irish equivalent the BAI, addressed the parliament.

He spoke about democracy - how it works and how it often doesn’t work.

He was followed by Dr Fergal Quinn of University of Limerick who talked about the importance of journalism in protecting democracy and the public interest.

He also outlined the need for protection of journalists and the difficulties and even threats that they face today.

Then the citizens got down to business and sorted out the work that they need to do for the rest of the life of the parliament in order to formulate and vote on their resolutions.

Local politicians and members of the press will meet the parliament this Saturday.