An Chomhairle co-ordinates Ireland’s participation in Europe Direct, an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General Press and Communications.
The key objectives of the Europe Direct initiative are:
- To increase the general level of understanding of EU priorities and activities in the general public.
- To disseminate and publish information about the service and about the information to which the service provides access, in order that public interest and involvement be stimulated.
- To enable the public to participate in debate and discussion about the EU and its actions and priorities, by providing a channel for the expression and transmission of opinion and input by members of the public.
The seven Europe Direct centres at Blanchardstown, Letterkenny, Dooradoyle, Longford, Macroom, Carraroe and Ballinasloe Libraries held events and provided a full range of information services during 2008.
Minister John Gormley, TD, with staff from Europe Direct Centres, the European Commission in Dublin, and An Chomhairle
Each regional Europe Direct Information Centre, has trained staff, a wide range of documentation and multimedia information, and the facilities to put people in touch with full-time help desks in the European Commission manned by English-speaking experts.
The launch of the 2009 Europe Direct calendar, in co-operation with the European Commission Office in Dublin, was held at Blanchardstown Library on the 11th September. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, T.D. launched the calendar, which featured the winning photographs from the all-Ireland primary schools photography competition on the theme of: ‘Clean water – we need it for work, life and play’.
The winners of the Europe Direct calendar competition at the prize-giving event
The European Commission issued a call for applications to operate Europe Direct Centres for the period 2009 to 2012 in September 2008. An Chomhairle submitted an application to host information centres in eight public libraries in Ireland for the period.