Citizens’ forum organisers plan countrywide events

THE organisers of the Claiming Our Future citizens forum are planing events across the country in what they claim is an attempt to give voice to the ground swell of support for progressive social and economic policies.

On Saturday more than 1,000 participants took part in the biggest Claiming Our Future “citizens’ forum” to date in Dublin’s RDS.

In between musical performances by singer Mary Coughlan and a Ballyfermot rap group among others, participants debated and voted on an alterative policy platform.

Among those who organised the event was Siobhán O’Donoghue of the Community Platform. She said: “People have come from every corner of Ireland and we could have filled the place over twice over. Politicians can’t afford to ignore this ground swell for progressive change based on equality, sustainability, inclusion and human dignity.”

“We think this will invigorate our democracy, which has been knocked by disillusionment and disempowerment,” she said.

Discussion saw a maximum income, a reformed tax system, and a minimum income threshold emerge as policy priorities.

Event MC Mary Murphy said: “The huge endorsement of minimum and maximum incomes is very exciting because it’s totally doable, regardless of whether we are in recession or not.

“This is an entirely deliverable demand to reduce the gap between rich and poor through a redistribution of income and wealth.”

Internet technology was used to assist the co-ordination of discussions and register the votes at the more than 100 tables of participants.

Among the participants were members of several political parties and trade unionists, including ICTU president Jack O’Connor.

Dublin participant Malachy Steenson said he believed the current economic crisis showed the necessity of major economic changes to provide for sustainable and productive economic development.

He added: “I personally support a call for a referendum on our economic future, which sees the assertion that the ‘common good’ must take precedence in the framing of legislation so that government can not again construct state policy merely for the benefit of bankers and speculators.”