Public Consultation
Policy
Public trust is an essential component of successful government, earned through genuine transparent and participatory policy-making rather than tokenistic initiatives. Such participatory policy-making demands a system of transparency that transforms traditional public sector administration. While past transparency wasn't necessarily by design, modern expectations demand better public consultation and citizen engagement. Transparency encourages engagement, and engagement strengthens democracy. Stronger democracy allows for more effective government by promoting accountability at every level. Digital tools enable open and transparent government, and Irish households are increasingly digitally connected. For genuine democratic engagement to advance, it is not enough for people to trust the government - the government must trust in its people.
Best Practice
Best practice in public consultation emphasises active public participation rather than simple consultation. While Ireland's statutory public consultation processes must be followed, the Public Consultation Institute of Ireland has established founding principles for citizen engagement across state, semi-state and private sector organisations. These principles blend digital and traditional approaches, with digital-first becoming standard practice. The Irish government's three key principles remain central: consultation must achieve genuine engagement and real listening rather than bureaucratic box-ticking; consultation should be targeted and accessible to those with clear interest in the policy; and government bodies must ensure interested parties can participate in all stages - development, implementation, evaluation, and review.
Outreach
Effective citizen engagement begins with outreach to citizens. Citizen outreach focuses on providing accurate and accessible information across all platforms. While PCII advocates a digital-first approach to public consultation and community engagement, digital exclusion remains a critical consideration in outreach strategies. Outreach methods span from traditional local notices to digital consultation rooms and virtual town halls. Digital tools, particularly social media, require strategic planning and management. The outreach approach must align with the subject matter, intended audience and desired outcomes. All citizen feedback requires proper capture through two-way platforms rather than social media monitoring alone.
Technology
Digital transformation reshapes government-citizen interactions, bringing more people into the public participatory process. This evolution expands participation while enhancing its diversity - a key goal for forward-looking governments. Current technologies include interactive platforms replacing traditional one-way websites, immersive technologies helping citizens experience proposed community changes, IoT sensors measuring community patterns, and digital tools advancing civic participation. These innovations create new pathways for meaningful engagement between citizens and governments, supporting more inclusive and responsive governance.
Enabling Digital Government
Government agencies and departments continue their digital transformation journey to meet modern service delivery demands. This transformation varies between organisations but focuses on simplifying information, communication and engagement within state bodies and between Government and citizens. Digital systems enable the transparency that citizens expect and demand. As public engagement in policy-making grows, citizens expect straightforward communications and meaningful interaction. Technology provides government with tools to include citizens in transparent policy-making, creating more effective and responsive governance.