Aileen O’Toole, founder of the Ideas Campaign, today welcomed the launch of Your Country Your Call, the national competition under the patronage of President Mary McAleese designed to reward transformational proposals for Irish economic prosperity.

“This exciting competition shares similar ideals to the Ideas Campaign and it should be actively supported,” Aileen O’Toole said.

“It builds on what was achieved by the Ideas Campaign, which succeeded in generating thousands of compelling ideas from Irish citizens and stimulating conversations about how Ireland can rebuild the economy.

“The Ideas Campaign completed its work last summer with the publication of an action plan and commitments by Government, businesses and individuals to implement some of the shortlisted ideas.

“I am confident that Your Country Your Call will receive a huge response and will be a powerful channel for the considerable creativity and goodwill we experienced during our campaign.”

Martin McAleese, President Mary McAleese and Aileen O’Toole at the launch of Your Country, Your Call

Launched on 5 March 2009, the Ideas Campaign was a citizens’ initiative designed to harness ideas for Irish economic recovery and renewal. Among the campaign’s highlights were:

• Almost 5,300 ideas logged on the campaign website from 5-31 March 2009
• Nearly 48,000 visits to the campaign website during that period
• Considerable interest, both nationally and internationally, in this initiative
• Publication by the campaign’s Advisory Group of the action plan which shortlisted 44 ideas for consideration by government, businesses and individuals
• Commitment by the Government in July 2009 to implement 17 of those ideas and to conduct periodic reviews on their implementation
• Decision by the Government to implement a further idea in this year’s Budget
• Creation of at least three groups – two led by senior business figures, another involving NGOs – which are reviewing how best to implement other ideas in the campaign
• Expressions of interest and implementation by several businesses and NGOs of other ideas in the action plan

On publication of the action plan last summer, the Advisory Group decided that it was best to wind down campaign activities and not play a formal role in implementation. However, Aileen O’Toole continues to play an informal role in supporting some of the groups which been formed following on from the campaign.

The Ideas Campaign was initiated and funded by Aileen O’Toole’s company AMAS.

Tags: Aileen O'Toole, economic renewal, Ideas Campaign

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 11:49 am and is filed under News.