On June 11th next, elections to two different types of assemblies are taking place in Ireland. On that day we will vote to elect our 15 Members of the European Parliament as part of an EU-wide election to select 626 MEPs representing some 375 million citizens across 15 countries. Also on June 11th, the electorate here will vote to elect their local representatives in local elections and in a Referendum to decide whether or not to give constitutional recognition to local government.
While the contrast in scale between the European Parliament - the largest multinational parliament in the world - and local government could not be more striking, there is a common theme provided by the citizen and the concept that decisions should be taken by public authorities that stand as close as possible to the individual. The European Parliament and local government are about you - the citizen. The Euro, consumer affairs, environmental protection, agriculture, education, and transport - are all part and parcel of our daily lives. Major advances in infrastructural development, local development, tourism and training have been made in Ireland in recent years as a result of significant EU financial transfers. These transfers have benefited the economy as a whole as well as local communities and individuals. Decisions taken at European and local level do impact on you - the citizen.
Local government is celebrating its centenary year in 1999. The European Parliament is forty-two years in existence this year and Members of the European Parliament have been directly elected every five years since 1979. They act as your representatives when EU laws are being made, when budgets are being decided and when policies are being implemented. Friday, June 11th next will be the time to choose your MEPs and your local representatives for the 1999-2004 period. You have an opportunity to help shape the form that Local and European Democracy takes into the new millennium. In doing so you make a choice about the type of Europe in which you want to live - it's your choice.
