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Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., will lead a Citizens’ Dialogue on the Future of Europe for community and voluntary organisations this Thursday 5th April in Dublin.

The Dialogue is being organised in cooperation with The Wheel and is open to representatives from community, voluntary and charity organisations who want to have their input to the Future of Europe debate.

The Citizens’ Dialogue initiative was launched by the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., in November 2017 to engage with citizens on their views, opinions and insights about the European Union. The intention is that the views expressed on Europe will provide an input to the Irish Government’s contribution to the broader future of Europe debate.

Citizens’ dialogues have already been held in Galway, Cork and Donegal, with one in Navan scheduled for 19th April.
The dialogues are part of a larger, ongoing process of consultation and engagement on the Future of Europe being undertaken by the Government across Ireland, culminating in a National Citizens’ Dialogue on Europe Day, 9 May, in Dublin.

Speaking in advance of the event, Minister McEntee said: "It is important that civil society organisations are given the opportunity to express their views, opinions and concerns on the future of Europe. I am pleased to lead this dialogue in conjunction with The Wheel, where their members will feed directly into this important process. I look forward to the dialogue and getting feedback and ideas from organisations throughout the country."

Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel added: "Civil society organisations give voice to citizens' needs and concerns. They are, therefore, key stakeholders in the debate on the future of Europe. This event is an excellent opportunity for community, voluntary and charitable organisations to have their say about what is happening in the European Union and how we can collectively tackle the challenges."

Representatives from community, voluntary and charity organisations can register for the Citizens’ Dialogue here.

Members of the general public are encouraged to register for the upcoming regional Citizens’ Dialogue in Meath on 19 April, while those who are unable to attend the events can join the debate by making a submission online at www.dfa.ie/eu.

Note for Editors
The Wheel is a support and representative body connecting community and voluntary organisations and charities across Ireland. Established in 1999, The Wheel has evolved to become a resource centre and forum for the community and voluntary sector.