Key takeaways from the AILG-NILGA Respectful Leadership Conference

This week, the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) co-hosted a cross-border event focused on promoting leadership at the local level and fostering civility in public life. Supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the event brought together insightful speakers from across Ireland and Europe and some of our team at LGIU were privileged to attend.

The conference was an opportunity to reflect on the current landscape of abuse in politics, what can be done at all levels to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, and map out the future needs of the sector. As the event underscored the importance of addressing abuse in politics, it also served as a valuable platform for fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among leaders committed to positive change.

The wealth of valuable insights shared by participants, which included first-hand councillor experiences and compelling research, made it a challenge to summarize the day’s discussions concisely. However, the key takeaways can be condensed into three main areas: 1) the current landscape of politics across the island, 2) actionable strategies for progress toward a more civil and inclusive political environment, and 3) the vision for change from councillors.

1. The normalisation of abuse and its threat to democracy

Hannah Philips from the Jo Cox Foundation Civility Commission, and Nóirín O’Sullivan, Chair of the Oireachtas Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life, outlined the current landscape of abuse being faced by Councillors across the Island both in their councils and from the public. This hostile environment, which extends to councillors’ families, is on the rise and has become disturbingly normalised in political life.

Ultimately, the growing reputation that abuse is part and parcel of life in public service is posing a significant threat to democracy. First, the toxic environment fosters a culture of silence, as councillors fear that voicing their opinions on certain topics may expose them to further abuse from those who disagree. This results in leaders self-censoring their voices. Second, the accessibility of councillors is being lost. A hallmark of local government across Ireland and Northern Ireland is its open door policy and community access to their representatives; however, with the greater need for councillor protection, that accessibility and participative element is being undermined.

Finally, the overall risk of abuse is deterring talented individuals from pursuing or remaining in public service – exacerbating existing inequalities. Women, and minority and ethnic groups, who are already underrepresented in local government, are disproportionately targeted by political abuse, both online and offline. With one-third of young women already deterred from entering politics due to such abuse, if the rise in abuse is not addressed thoughtfully and quickly, it will continue to drive away strong candidates, impacting democracy forever.

2. Enhancing leadership and civility

As the event title suggests, raising the bar in leadership and civility is critical to addressing the problem. The importance of civility was raised countless times throughout the day, particularly in dealings internally within a Council. Civility creates space for diverse opinions in politics to not only coexist but foster robust discussions and healthy debate. It provides a setting where healthy debate can take place without escalating into personal or disrespectful attacks, which Nóirín O’Sullivan aptly summarised as “Play the ball, not the man”. By embracing diverse opinions and fostering respectful debate, councils can become safe spaces that nurture cooperation despite differences.

Another key call to action from the event was the need for real action from leaders. It was clear delegates desired action-oriented approaches and responses from leaders, and were frustrated with stagnant ‘sit-on-the-shelf’ policies. Suggested proactive measures raised by councillors included risk planning for abuse at council meetings and events, improving accessibility to senior leadership for staff, and establishing clearer workplace boundaries and behavioural standards.

Of course, you can’t discuss hostility in politics without addressing social media. Dr Kelly Fincham, Discipline of Media, University of Galway, delivered an insightful presentation on the need to utilise social media effectively rather than let it be a vehicle for hate. Social media, which was once seen as a tool that allowed people to have a louder voice and facilitated positive interaction has now become, as we all know, a toxic platform of hostility. Recognising the inherent biases and limitations of social media, it is critical councillors shift their intentions with social media from a networking tool to a broadcasting mechanism. By disabling comments and disengaging from abusive interactions, councillors and councils can protect themselves from online abuse while promoting a more positive image of local government careers, thus reclaiming control of narratives around public policy.

3. Moving forward: Councillors vision for the future

The event facilitated valuable dialogue among councillors from both regions, allowing them to share common experiences, voice concerns, and seek guidance on addressing abuse. The event closed with a discussion on what progress delegates would like to see from BILGA and AILG in a year’s time. Participants expressed a desire for further action and support from NILGA and AILG, proposing ideas such as cross-border action plans, respectful media training, joint research initiatives, and a Civility pledge.

As enlightening as the event was in understanding the true experience of councillors across the island, we sincerely hope for the sake of the sector that in a year’s time, significant progress will be made. Only by fostering collaboration and implementing effective strategies, can we better protect and support our dedicated public servants, encouraging more outstanding individuals to confidently step forward and contribute their talents to local government.