by badminme | Mar 6, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
Notice of Spring Plenary Meeting – Wednesday, 27th March 2024
Clare Public Participation Network warmly invites all member groups to attend our first plenary meeting of 2024 which will take place on Wednesday 27th March 2024 from 7pm to 9pm in Ennis (venue to be confirmed).
What is a Plenary Meeting?
Plenary meetings are the main decision-making forums for Clare PPN. At these meetings, all member groups are invited to attend and to put items forward for the agenda for discussion or for inclusion in the work plan of Clare PPN. At each of these meetings the staff and secretariat of Clare PPN present an update on the work, finances, and activities of the PPN and present their work plan for discussion and input from member groups. Clare PPN’s representatives who sit on 11 boards and committees in the County will also have an opportunity to present updates from their committees and to take any questions or input from member groups at this meeting.
Call for agenda items
All current member groups can propose agenda items for this meeting on or before Wednesday 20th March. Please send these using the subject line: ”Agenda Item Plenary Meeting” to admin@clareppn.ie
Submitting a motion
If you would like to bring a motion to the Plenary, please email admin@clareppn.ie by Wednesday 20th March, with the wording of the motion and outlining why you would like to see the motion passed.
FREE to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | Mar 4, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
Due to enquiries that Clare PPN received over the long weekend while we were all off, we have EXTENDED THE NOMINATION CLOSING DATE to Friday 22nd March.
The Joint Policing Committee provides a forum where the Clare Local Authority and Senior Garda Officers – with the participation of elected members and community interests – can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the County. Clare PPN’s community representative position on this committee has recently been vacated due to term limits. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Madeline McAleer for her years of dedicated commitment on behalf of community groups in Clare.
The JPC meets quarterly on average. As a PPN rep you will also be required to attend a quarterly PPN plenary meeting and a short pre-meeting before each JPC. The position is voluntary but travel expenses are paid by Clare County Council in line with public sector rates. For more information please go to: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/community-participation/clare-joint-policing-committee/
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. Local Area Reps for a political party are also unable to be PPN representatives.
Election Rules and Process:
- Each member group may nominate one candidate and may cast one vote in each of these elections.
- Only groups who were members of Clare PPN on Monday 4th March 2024 are eligible to participate in this election.
- No person can represent Clare PPN on more than one external committee or body
How to nominate a candidate
If you or any member of your group are interested in taking up this role, we are accepting nominations until 5pm, 22nd March. Send an email to admin@clareppn.ie with the following information:
- Name of PPN member group.
- Position for which they are nominating a candidate, ‘JPC rep’
- Name of proposed nominee (after seeking consent).
- 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, 25th March and they will be invited to cast their votes using our online form. Online voting will remain open until 5pm on Monday 1st April. No votes will be accepted after this time. The winning candidate will be notified 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
by badminme | Feb 20, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
NEW MEMBERS MEETING: 26th Feb @ 6.30pm
We’re delighted to say we’ve had a flurry of new groups joining the network in the early weeks of 2024 and we’re inviting members of those groups – or indeed anyone interested in learning more about what Clare Public Participation Network is and does – to join us for a short online information meeting on Monday 26th February at 6:30pm.
You’ll get to meet and ask questions of Clare PPN’s staff and learn about how your group can benefit and contribute to Clare PPN’s activities. We’re holding the meeting online for your convenience but if that format doesn’t suit anyone we are very happy to arrange individual calls with new member groups too. Just drop us an email or call on 087 1617375 and we’ll get back to you to set a time. To register for the New Members Meeting please email your name to admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | 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.
by badminme | Jan 29, 2024 | Members News, PPN News |
Clare PPN’s latest quarterly report can be read here:
Quarterly report October to December 2023
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email admin@clareppn.ie
by badminme | Jan 24, 2024 | Current, PPN News |
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
