Election Season: Would you like to represent your community in Co Clare?

by | Feb 13, 2024 | Members News | 0 comments

Election Season: Would you like to represent your community in Co Clare?

 

There’s a good bit of talk about elections at the moment, with Local and EU elections coming up in May and a General Election on the horizon. What you might not know though is that if you are in a community group in Clare you are eligible to put yourself forward to represent your community on various committees and bodies in Clare through the PPN, read on for more information.

If you believe in the potential of community groups in Clare to make a difference through genuine participation in policy and decision-making, then you should consider standing for election as a PPN Representative. Clare PPN will have a variety of roles becoming vacant over the coming months – this could be your opportunity to put into practice your passion for public participation. Scroll down to the end of this article to see a list of the Clare PPN Rep roles that are, or will soon be, vacant. 

We plan to hold an online meeting and discussion session on Tuesday March 5th at 7pm for people who might be interested in putting themselves forwards as a PPN Rep. There is no commitment needed to attend this meeting – and it’s open to anyone who is interested. To register your interest in this meeting please email admin@clareppn.ie and we’ll make sure you get the link to join us on the night.

Elaine D’Alton, who is a Rep on Clare’s SPC for Economic Development, says: “I love being a Clare PPN Rep, because it give me a sense that the Women’s Collective can actually make a difference, because it means we’re connected to a much bigger entity.” Elaine (pictured above on the left) is involved in Women’s Collective Ireland – Clare, which is a member group of Clare PPN. 

Padraic Hayes (pictured second from left), a disability rights activist who’s involved with Clare Leader Forum, says: “I really enjoy being a Clare PPN Rep as it gives me the opportunity to highlight local issues that affect people with disabilities.”

What does a PPN Rep do?
The main purpose of Clare PPN is to enable the hundreds of community and voluntary groups across the county to input into, and have their voices heard in, decision-making and policy formation at Clare County Council. Reps are elected by our member groups to sit on a range of policy committees and other forums covering various aspects of life in the county. 

PPN Reps play a crucial role, facilitating communication between community groups and the Council and ensuring that those groups can influence local government policy. Reps are supported in this voluntary role by Clare PPN staff. In a typical year, a PPN Rep will attend four to six committee meetings, and is also expected to attend Clare PPN Plenary meetings. 

Check out this 3-minute video which tells you more about what our Reps do:

VIDEO – What does a PPN rep do?


Who can become a Clare PPN Rep?
Anyone involved with one of Clare PPN’s member groups can stand for election as a Rep. Candidates must be nominated by a Clare PPN member group. In most cases, a Rep position is associated with one of our three pillars or colleges – Community & Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental – and must be nominated by a group from the relevant college. 

Clare PPN Reps sit on the following committees and boards:
• Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Social Development
• SPC for Economic Development
• SPC for Rural Development
• SPC for Physical Development
• Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
• Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee
• Clare Biodiversity & Heritage Forum
• Joint Policing Committee (JPC)
• Fisheries Local Action Group West
• Clare Sports Partnership
• Clare Rural Development Forum

You can see a full list of our current Reps at this page: Your PPN Reps 

Meeting & training session:
We will be having a meeting and training session on March 5th to chat about the upcoming vacancies. Keep an eye out on our social media channels for reminders or register your interest now by emailing admin@clareppn.ie – by the way, we’re now on Instagram as well.  

We’ll also inform our member groups by email.  

Finally, we’d like to say how much the membership, Secretariat and staff of Clare PPN appreciates the willingness of community-minded people to step forward and give their time freely to represent their communities and the network, we couldn’t do it without you.

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Upcoming vacancies for Clare PPN Rep roles:
We currently have – or soon will have – vacancies for the following roles:

Representing Social Inclusion College:

  • Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee
  • Rural Development Forum

Representing our Community & Voluntary college:

  • LCDC
  • Rural Development Forum
  • Joint Policing Committee

Representing our Environment college:

Notice of Election to Biodiversity and Heritage Forum (Environmental College)

by | Jan 31, 2024 | Clare Rural Development Forum, Local Community Development Committee, Members News, PPN News, SPC for Physical Development, SPC for Rural Development

Notice of Elections to Biodiversity and Heritage Forum (Environmental College)

Clare PPN wishes to give notice of an election for the following position:

Environmental representative on Clare County Council’s new Biodiversity and Heritage Forum:

Clare County Council was recently tasked with creating two separate plans for Clare:   the County Clare Heritage Plan 2023 – 2029 and the County Clare Biodiversity Plan 2024 – 2030. In order to do this they established the Biodiversity and Heritage Forum, which held its inaugural meeting last July. This forum was proposed to meet on a quarterly basis until both of the above plans have been created and on a twice yearly basis after that. Clare PPN is seeking nominations from our Environment College member groups for a person with strong expertise and experience in issues relating to protecting and restoring biodiversity in Clare. It would be particularly welcome if the nominees are also interested in or have expertise in issues relating to built and natural heritage.

The ideal candidate will be well connected with environmental groups in the area. They should have a genuine interest in action to protect, restore and sustain the natural environment as well as in increasing participation and policy development by local groups in Local Government Structures.  They will also agree to the Clare PPN Representatives’ Charter 2023 which sets out the responsibilities and obligations of this voluntary role.

**Please note that due to Clare PPN’s rules, any person who has publicly declared their intention to run for local, general or EU elections can not act as a representative for Clare PPN until 6 months have passed since the date of the relevant election*

Election Rules and Process:

  • Each environmental pillar member group may nominate one candidate and may cast one vote in each of these elections. (It is each group’s named contact person’s responsibility to consult with their own members regarding this)
  • Only groups who were members of Clare PPN on Wednesday, 31st January 2024 are eligible to participate in this election.
  • Only groups who are members of the Environmental College/Pillar can participate in this election.
  • No person can represent Clare PPN on more than one external committee or body,

How to nominate a candidate:

Groups wishing to nominate a candidate or candidates must seek their consent first and then must send an email to admin@clareppn.ie with the following information on or before Friday, 23rd February at 5pm:

  • Name of PPN member group.
  • Position for which they are nominating a candidate.
  • Name of proposed nominee.
  • Contact details of proposed nominee.
  • A short paragraph (up to 200 words) detailing the nominees’ suitability and experience for the role- this will be shared on social media and on our website in advance of voting.
  • A photo of your nominee which we may share with our members and social media followers.

Clare PPN will confirm receipt of nominations by email. Following the close of nominations Clare PPN will circulate details of candidates to relevant member groups on Monday 26th February and they will be invited to cast their votes using our online form. Online voting will remain open until 1pm on Monday 4th March. No votes will be accepted after this time. The successful candidate will then be contacted and offered the position.

If you need any more information or wish to discuss the role further please email admin@clareppn.ie or call 087 1617375

NB: Even if you have nominated a candidate, you will still need to cast your vote to support their election.

 

Two referendums on March 8th – are you registered to vote?

by | Jan 24, 2024 | Current, PPN News | 0 comments

Two referendums on March 8th – are you registered to vote?

 

In just over six weeks, on Friday March 8th, two referendums will be held on the same day. This will be the first time in almost five years that people in Ireland will have the opportunity to vote in a referendum. It’s important to make sure that you are registered to vote. 

There have been some small changes to the voter registration process – and there has been some confusion around these – but the good news is that, if you are already registered to vote and your circumstances have not changed, then you are not obliged to provide your PPS number. More about that below. 

One of the two questions asked on March 8th will be whether to remove the Constitutional reference to the role of women in the home. The other question relates to expanding the concept of the family within the Irish Constitution. Clare PPN cannot use public funds to campaign for a particular outcome in this or any referendum. 

However, what we can do is encourage everyone to inform yourself about the questions under consideration, to check the register to see that you are entitled to vote and then to go out and vote on March 8th. And there will be another opportunity to use your vote in early June, when local and European elections are held. 

You can find out more and check that you’re registered to vote and that your details are up to date at checktheregister.ie

The government and Clare County Council are encouraging everyone, including those already registered to vote, to improve the integrity of the register by providing their PPS number, Eircode and date of birth. 

However, if your details are up to date, then you are not obliged to enter your PPS number – in fact, no action is required. This is optional.  

On the other hand, if you are applying to the voters’ register for the first time or if you are amending your information (for example, if your address has changed), and if you are doing so online, then you will need to provide information including your PPS number and date of birth. 

Furthermore, if you are doing one of these (newly applying or changing details) and do not wish to do so online, you still have the option of going the traditional route – namely by filling out a hard-copy/paper form and getting an in-person identity check at a Garda station. Forms are available from Clare Co Council public offices, post offices, libraries, Garda stations or can be downloaded here:
https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/forms

It’s also important to say that neither PPS numbers nor dates of birth will ever appear on the electoral register.

Finally, you can also use Check the Register to provide information about other necessary changes – for example, family members who are deceased but are still on the register. You can check the register at: 

https://checktheregister.ie