REGULATION OF MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (EVIDENCE OF THE LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL)

Introduction. The article considers the experience of regulating meetings and procedures of local government bodies in the Republic of Ireland. The authors for the first time in the domestic literature analyze the provisions of a number of legislative and municipal legal acts of the Republic of Ireland relating to the regulation of the organization and conduct of meetings and related procedures of the Limerick City and County Council. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of this research is formed by such general scientific and special methods of cognition of legal phenomena as a method of system-structural analysis, a formal-legal method, a logical method, and others. Results. The Standing Orders of the Limerick City and County Council, adopted in 2016, are very formal and regulate quite thoroughly the issues of organizing and holding meetings of the Council and the organically related procedures of the Limerick City and County Council. Standing Orders of the Limerick City and County Council are more focused on the regulation of procedural, rather than institutional aspects of the organization of the Limerick City and County Council. The Standing Orders, regulating the relationship of the mayor with the Council, ensure the significant role of the mayor of the Limerick City and County, who is also the chairman of the Council, in the activities of the Council, since his powers extend to solving a number of issues, including those outside the scope established by law and standing orders. Discussion and Conclusions. The Standing Orders allow for the presence of the public and media representatives at meetings of the Council, which ensures an adequate level of openness and transparency in the meetings and activities of the Council. The Standing Orders allow for following the institutional and procedural features of the organization and activities of meetings of the Limerick City and County Council, they are characterized by dynamic development and democratic potential and create the conditions for proper organization of collective work of advisers, officials and employees of the Limerick City and County Council.

the Republic of Ireland, local government, local government reform, local authorities, Limerick City and County, Limerick City and County Council, standing orders, meetings and procedures

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