COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

MOTION NO. 24

MOTION: Councillor T. Gilligan

That this Area Committee supports Clondalkin becoming a Fair Trade town and fully supports a Fair Trade Steering Group. I must congratulate my old primary school Clonburris national school for taking this initiative, they received over 1,000 signatures to date.

REPORT:

The overall matter of Fair Trade town status has been discussed at previous Planning and Development SPC's. Below is the text of the last report which was made to the September 2012 SPC meeting;

'Arising from the last SPC meeting the Nenagh Fairtrade organisation was contacted for any advice they might have regarding the pursuance of fair-trade status for Rathfarnham village.

In response Nenagh Fairtrade organisation offered the following practical advice:

• The need for a local steering group to promote fair-trade in the locality.
• Local retailers and café owners need to be approached at an early stage to ascertain their interest in selling or using fair-trade produce.
• A survey to be carried out to identify what, if any, fairtrade produce is being currently sold in the area.
• If possible a ‘flagship’ outlet should be identified to act as a focal point for the initiative.
• Local media both traditional and electronic to be used to promote the initiative.

In general Nenagh Fairtrade organisation considered that the fairtrade website offered further practical advice and support which was useful for getting the initiative off the ground.

Arising from this advice it is suggested that the following approach may be taken by the SPC;

• Local interests investigate the setting up of a fairtrade steering group which would include- local retailers, local residents, local interest groups and local public representatives.'

While activities to support Fair Trade is to be generally welcomed, the promotion of Fair Trade is fundamentally based on local community activity.The conferring of Fair Trade status is based on this work and is not directly related to Council activity.While the SPC report does refer to Rathfarnham village, the overall suggested advice is of relevance to progressing such a project in Clondalkin