Preparation for the EU and Local Elections

Since August 2008 the V.P.S.J. has facilitated 60 workshops throughout Ireland in preparation for the E.U and local elections.

Local Elections

Foreign nationals living in Ireland are entitled to vote in Local Elections. Local Government Authorities and NGOs e.g. Integrating Ireland invited the V.P.S.J. to train community leaders to facilitate the workshop on local elections with their communities. Approximately 300 people were trained. In order to vote people had to be registered before the 24th November so registration drives were organised by community leaders throughout the country. It was most encouraging to see the interest and commitment of our foreign national residents in participating in the election. The approach used in the workshop is based on the work of Pauolo Freire and is 85% participation and 15% information. The workshops deal with some key topics:

• The need for Local Government
• The Impact of Local Government
• The Role of a Local Councillor
• The When and How of Local Elections
• Choosing a Local Councillor

The following gives a flavour of the responses and evaluations of the participants:

‘‘The workshop gave me a whole new approach to local elections. I now know what the local councillors are meant to do. Some are excellent. Some are damn right idle.’’

‘‘I learned that my vote is my vote. If I don’t vote I should go silent about the problems in our area. I lose my chance to make a difference.’’

‘’ You are very fortunate in Ireland to have a transparent and fair electoral system. Some of us come from countries where there is a lot of pressure on voters. We had a corrupt system in our country’’.

‘‘I have learned that it is my responsibility as a citizen of the country to use my vote and to inform myself of local candidates and their issues. No Vote No Voice!’’

E.U. Elections

From January onwards the V.P.S.J. worked for the most part with Irish citizens on the E.U. Elections as well the Local Elections. The workshops on the E.U. Elections explored some key concepts:

• The Beginning and Growth of the E.U.
• Areas of Agreement and E.U Treaties
• How the E.U is governed
• Opportunities and Challenges Associated with E.U. Membership
• European Elections

The following comments of some participants reflect their response to the workshop:

‘’ I did not realise how important the E.U. Elections are for all of us. Decisions made in Brussels impact on our daily lives’’

‘’The vision of the E.U. – peace and prosperity for all members of the union impressed me. We need that vision today’’.

‘’ Ireland needs strong and informed MEPs to work for the good of Ireland and for the good of the E.U.’’

‘’With only 12 MEPs in a parliament of 736 we must choose the right people’’.

‘’The E.U. can play a key role in reducing poverty and unemployment. If I meet any of the candidates I will ask them to tell me what they will do to reduce poverty and unemployment’’.

‘’I never knew much about the E.U. or cared about it – now I am interested in meeting our MEPs’’.

‘’We all need to get better reports of what is going on in the E.U. Parliament’’.