This paper by Edmond Grace explores the role of citizens’ juries in the context of spatial planning in Ireland and their use in deliberative processes within the European Union. The author discusses the broad concept of representative deliberative processes, emphasising how randomly selected citizens can contribute to public decision-making by developing collective recommendations. The paper references an OECD report from 2020, which highlights the increased use of citizens’ juries globally since the 1980s, particularly within Europe.

The paper’s findings suggest that citizens’ juries, by including a wide range of societal perspectives, can command public respect and trust, which is crucial for the successful implementation of national frameworks, like Ireland’s National Planning Framework (NPF). The paper argues for the use of such juries at both national and regional levels to facilitate public understanding and acceptance of spatial planning policies. It highlights that this approach not only enriches democratic culture but also ensures decisions are made free from vested interests, leading to more balanced and sustainable development at all levels of society.

Overall, the paper advocates for the integration of citizens’ juries into planning processes at national (Irish) and international (EU) levels to engage with all citizens and to increase public trust and legitimacy in decision-making.