The call for expressions of interest to join the Open Government Round Table to develop Ireland's third National Action Plan is open until the 16th November. Submit your application to IrelandOpenGovernment@per.gov.ie with the following details:
(i) Your motivation to join the Round Table;
(ii) An outline of your area of interest and experience in one or more of the four Open Government values outlined above;
(iii) A narrative outlining your work in this field to date
(iv) How you would intend to communicate and engage with Civil Society organisations and the public as a representative in the role; and
(v) Please provide a short summary highlighting the main points of your application in 250 words.
(vi) Contact details: Your name, email, phone number, address.
The key aspects of the Open Government Terms of Reference includes:
- Those expressing an interest will need to demonstrate expertise, or the ability to represent citizen groups, in the open government values of:
- Transparency: Disclosing more information, improving the quality of the information disclosed, improving accessibility of information to the public or enabling the right to information;
- Civic Participation: Creating or improving opportunities, or capabilities for the public to inform or influence decisions or creating or improving the enabling environment for civil society;
- Public Accountability: Creating or improving rules, regulations, and mechanisms to publicly hold government officials answerable for their actions; and
- Technology & Innovation for Transparency and Accountability: Enhancing the use of technology and innovation to enable public involvement in government and will enhance at least one of: access to information, public participation, or public accountability.
- Participation in the Round Table will be restricted to people outside the party political system.
- The interim Civil Society members of the Round Table will publish their determination on which candidates meet the eligibility criteria.
The OGAI has nominated six interim Round Table Civil Society members to direct the process to assess the expressions of interest to select Civil Society member. These are:
- Antoin Ó Lachtnáin (Chair - Open Government Association of Ireland / Digital Rights Ireland)
- Anne Colgan (Imagine Dundrum)
- Carey Lening (Privacy Activist with background in data protection and IT security)
- Dermot McNally (OpenStreetmap)
- John Devitt (Transparency International Ireland)
- Ronan Kennedy (Irish Council for Civil Liberties)
Key Open Government Round Table dates
- Tuesday 2nd November 2021 is the formal launch for expressions of interest.
- Tuesday 16th November 2021 at 17:00 is the deadline for receipt of expressions of interest.
- Friday 19th November 2021 an online election will be held amongst persons who have submitted expressions of interest to determine civil society membership of Round Table (if more than 6 eligible expressions of interest are received, in accordance with the Terms of Reference).
- Wednesday 24th November 2021 the interim Civil Society members of the Round Table will contact those who submitted expressions of interest informing them of the result of the election and will publish their determination.
- Monday 29th November 2021 at 10:00 (online meeting): The 1st Open Government Round Table working meeting to be opened by Minister Ossian Smyth.
Role of the Open Government Round Table
To collaboratively co-create the next Open Government National Action Plan (by end of Q2 2022) and monitor its implementation using expertise and/ or the ability to represent citizen groups in the open government values of:
- Transparency (i.e. access to information)
- Civic Participation
- Public Accountability and
- Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability