Ahern in plea over active citizenship
A healthy democracy depends on citizens getting actively engaged in the issues that affect them, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.
There are currently 160 different nationalities living in Ireland and how society responds to that multicultural diversity will determine how mature we are, he added.
The Taoiseach was speaking in Dublin’s Croke Park at the first public consultation meeting of the newly-established Taskforce on Active Citizenship.
The Taskforce was set up to inform the Government on ways in which it can encourage greater participation of citizens, locally and nationally, and to advise the Cabinet on measures that may contribute to the development of strong, civic-minded and independent citizens.
Mr Ahern said today: “Active citizenship is not a substitute for state responsibility, but neither is it enough to totally rely on the state.
"The important role that active citizenship can play is in helping to connect citizens and to ensure a more effective decision-making process through partnership with the state.”
Mr Ahern said he felt that many people are bothered about changes in social and cultural attitudes and behaviour.
“There is a concern that we have become more materialistic, maybe even more selfish, and if we have, I believe many people would conclude that, for all our new wealth, we are much the poorer,” he remarked.
The Taoiseach pointed out that the shift from a relatively homogenous to a very diverse society is set to continue.
“How we manage that transition is critical to the way in which we mature as a nation. It is time to decide our vision of what it means to be a citizen in this changing Ireland.
"Citizenship, in the broadest sense, is a powerful concept. It captures the concept of both rights and obligations,” he added.
Nationwide seminars on citizenship will be held between now and October 2 in Dublin, Monaghan, Sligo, Galway, Cork and Tullamore.
Members of the Taskforce, chaired by Special Olympics chief Mary Davis, include ICTU general secretary David Begg, UCD disability officer John Bennett and rural activist Fr Harry Bohan.
