1. www.e-consultation.org E-consultation It is the use of electronic computing and communication technologies in consultation. This complements existing consultation mechanisms. We aim to turn e-consultation from an experimental idea to a practical option for community, voluntary and public sector bodies in areas affected by conflict.

2. www.e-consultation.org Queen’s University Belfast June 2000: the deluge E-consultation study group June 2001: e-consultation workshop –experts from Netherlands, Germany and East Belfast –80 attendees from across Ireland 2002: proposed e-consultation guide National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis Significant body of work on new governace, development, democratication and conflict studies. 2002/2003 group members of TODOS – towards democracy and society 2004: research project on e-consultation Letterkenny Institute of Technology Actively involved in Community development in border region for 30 years 2004 - Founding of TUATH to facilitate community development and promote peace and reconciliation. History

3. www.e-consultation.org HEA E-Consultation Project: QUB, NUI, LYIT E-Consultation: evaluating appropriate technologies and processes for citizens' participation in public policy Identify the social context and political implications of forms of consultation in Ireland, N & S Identify appropriate e-consultation technologies and processes Advise, help, study and evaluate at least two electronic consultation exercises Disseminate the results through an online e-consultation guide and training workshops

4. www.e-consultation.org Research Partners A multidisciplinary team comprising Political theory, Sociology, Information Technology and Community Development Queens University Belfast National University of Ireland, Maynooth Letterkenny Institute of Technology

5. www.e-consultation.org Research on Consultation Local Authorities, North and South Central Government Departments, North and South NGO’s, North and South

6. www.e-consultation.org Local authorities very positive on consultations

7. www.e-consultation.org Benefits of consultation ‘Consultation has enriched the process of decision-making and has led to services meeting the needs of citizens more effectively. It has also built a sense of ownership of policies, plans and strategies among citizens.’ ‘Where used effectively consultation enables the Council to ensure that the policies and strategies developed have the support of the people we serve. In this way it also contributes to continuous service improvement and ensures that we are accurately providing what it is that people tell us they want.’

8. www.e-consultation.org Reasons for initiating public consultation There would seem to be a tendency by govt to view consultation as a way of gaining knowledge of citizen's views rather than encouraging active participation in decision-making. This, it could be argued, indicates that ‘participation’ by citizens in public consultation does not necessarily include ‘participation’ in actual decision-making but rather simply ‘participation’ in the decision-making process This distinction can be critical

9. www.e-consultation.org Why consult? Some people in govt. to view consultation as: –a way of gaining knowledge of citizen's views –rather than encouraging active participation in decision-making..

10. www.e-consultation.org Consultation Fatigue Consultation fatigue is NOT seen as a significant issue by authorities. While local authorities would acknowledge some issues related to it as ‘difficult’, the concept of ‘consultation fatigue’ is certainly not detrimental to the use of public consultation

11. www.e-consultation.org Consultation Fatigue Table Extremely difficult Very difficult Diffic ult Not difficult at all The public are asked to engaged in too many consultation processes 25.014.328.632.1 Current consultation techniques are too time- consuming 0.028.642.928.6 A public perception that consultation does not influence policy 25.021.439.314.3 The public are repeatedly asked the same questions 14.317.935.732.1

12. www.e-consultation.org ‘One way street?’ Consultation both N/S would appear to be employed as a 'one way' street. The most widely used consultation technique is ‘consultation documents’ where views are elicited from citizens.

13. www.e-consultation.org What consultation should be about ‘… giving people a voice, better decision making, more informed decision making. More I suppose… a sense of participation and control over their own lives and things that are important for them, you know? That’s the theory of why we need to do it…’

14. www.e-consultation.org What consultation is about: ‘We had very poor experiences of consultations over the past years. Most agencies carrying out these overwhelm you with paper. The processes used exclude and further marginalize. It is a very disempowering experience all round…’ (Consultation fatigue) ‘The Government only ‘goes through the motions’, does not genuinely listen’

15. www.e-consultation.org Consultation in local authorities The most popularly used techniques are traditional; consultation documents, public meetings, service satisfaction surveys and co- option/committee involvement. In comparison, the use of e- techniques is far less common, with documentary/ policy websites being the most popular.

16. www.e-consultation.org

17. Technologies and tasks ICTs can be used to support a range of tasks within a consultation. How important are these tasks within your consultations? Please rank them. 1.One-way information transfer 2.Supporting dialogue 3.Explore problems & plan solutions 4.Measure needs and preferences 5.Write documents 6.Manage the process

18. www.e-consultation.org 1. One-way information transfer

19. www.e-consultation.org 2. Supporting dialogue

20. www.e-consultation.org 3. Explore problems/plan solutions

21. www.e-consultation.org 4. Measure needs and preferences

22. www.e-consultation.org 5. Write documents

23. www.e-consultation.org Open question: how to integrate e-consultation tasks in a consultation process?

24. www.e-consultation.org What next? Better understanding of consultation and e-consultation What technologies and processes work best for participants? What is needed for organisational implementation of e-consultation? Dissemination