Citizenship body to hold first in series of public meetings

The body set up by the Government in an effort to get more people involved in community activities is due to hold the first in a series of public meetings in Dublin today.

The Taskforce on Active Citizenship was set up earlier this year to encourage citizens to become more active in civic society.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is due to open today's meeting, which will be followed by similar events in Monaghan, Sligo, Galway, Cork and Tullamore in the coming weeks.

The taskforce will then report back to the Government with recommendations on how policy can be altered to give people incentives to get more involved in activities like caring for the elderly and the disabled.