Denis Parfenov is the Founder and Director of Active Citizen, a politically-neutral citizen-centered Irish non-profit which advocate the use of open-source technology for civil engagement and government transparency. He holds a Master degree in International Business from University College of Dublin and a Master degree in International Relations from Dublin City University. During the 2011 Irish General Election, Denis assisted in the roll-out of www.candidatewatch.ie, an Irish sister project of www.parliamentwatch.org. He has initiated and is currently coordinating a civil campaign to encourage Ireland to join OGP. Twitter: @parfenov_
We welcome the Irish government’s announcement that Ireland will participate in the Open Government Partnership (OGP). This international initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between civil society and the state, enhancing transparency and openness through citizen participation and dialogue. We commend Minister Brendan Howlin, TD, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform who played a
On the international stage, Ireland is very much a country of contrasts: On one hand, Ireland holds an international reputation as a knowledge economy and as a global technological centre-of-excellence. On the other hand, its government is one of the least progressive exponents of e-Participation in the world, according to 2012 WebIndexReport. Why is this? And what can