IIEA Talks

In his remarks to the IIEA, Dr Declan Downey discusses how since the promulgation of its Constitution in 1947, Japan has forsworn war and the use of nuclear weapons, maintained military neutrality, and pursued a pacifist foreign policy. Yet, it has not adopted ‘the ostrich pose’ regarding recent and emerging challenges to international stability. Over the past decade, successive governments have augmented national defence capabilities, and most recently, on 16 December 2022, the current government of Premier Kishida launched its new national defence policy,  ‘The Three Strategic Documents’, which has received considerable public support. This presentation explores how this transformation has occurred, how it may be implemented, and the challenges that it would face. Further, Dr Downey also discusses how Japan may provide pointers as to how another pacifist and neutral island nation off the coast of a major continental world power might learn how to meet the same challenges of current global realpolitik. This event has been organised in conjunction with the Embassy of Japan, Ireland. About the Speaker: Declan M. Downey was awarded the Ph.D. in Legal & Diplomatic History from the University of Cambridge in 1993. Since 1995, he has been lecturing in European and Japanese Diplomatic History at University College Dublin, where he coordinates the BCL degree programme in Law with History. In 1995, he initiated the first ever Japanese History course at degree level in Ireland at UCD. He also supervised the first ever doctoral dissertation in Japanese Studies in Ireland. A former trustee of the Chester Beatty Library (2012-2017), he is closely involved with Japanese cultural and academic events in Ireland. In 2009, he was the first Irish citizen to be elected to membership of the Spanish Royal Academy of History. Since 2018, he has been an Assessor for the Publications Board of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna. His extensive publications and leading role in major international research projects have been recognised with international distinctions and awards, including Austrian and Spanish state honours, and the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation in 2020. In Autumn 2022, Dr Downey was the first Irish academic to be awarded the prestigious Gaimushō Visiting Scholarship, which he took up in Tokyo during his semestral research leave from UCD last Spring.

Great Yarmouth in Norfolk is probably a town you have never heard of, but it has a large population of EU migrant workers who came to the UK before Brexit to work in chicken factories and on farms. We wanted to know about their lives especially their working conditions. The working conditions were not good, and harassment and bullying were common. We were interested to know what they did about this, did they actually enforce any of their employment rights and if not, why not? In her address to the IIEA, Professor Barnard answers the question: “What Happens When Enforcement Doesn’t Happen: The Implications for the Individuals, for Other Employers and for The State.” About the Speaker: Catherine Barnard is Professor of EU law and Employment Law and senior tutor and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. She is the author of EU Employment Law, The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms, and European Union. She is a member of the European Commission funded European Labour Law Network (ELLN). She is also a Senior Fellow of the UK in a Changing Europe (UKCE). Her work focuses on the legal issues around migration, together with the legal and constitutional issues associated with Brexit, in particular examining the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

In his address to the IIEA, the Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs discusses the impacts of the upcoming enlargement(s) on the functioning of the EU and how the EU must reform itself in order to prepare for such enlargement(s). Secretary of State Antunes focuses on the challenges and opportunities of an enlarged EU, with a particular emphasis on the timing, the scope, the content and the processes of internal reform, as well as potential mechanisms to accommodate existing and prospective Members States’ participation in the European project. Tiago Antunes is the Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, a position that he has held since March 2022. Prior to his current role, he was Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers between from 2017 to 2019, in charge of the Portuguese Government’s law-making process, and Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022, responsible for the internal coordination of the Government and its communication. Tiago Antunes holds a PhD in Law from the University of Lisbon, where is a member of the faculty since 2001. Besides being Assistant Professor at the School of Law, he is also a lead researcher at CIDP – Research Centre for Public Law. Along with his academic career, Tiago Antunes has a long and diverse professional experience in the fields of law and policy, having practiced law from 2001 to 2005. He also worked at the cabinet of the Secretary of State Assistant to the Prime-Minister, first as an advisor from 2005 to 2009 and then as its Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2011.

Paschal Donohoe TD, President of the Eurogroup and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform of Ireland,participates in a fireside chat with Daire Lawler, IIEA Senior Economics Researcher and Chair of the YPN, and a question-and-answer session with members. In his capacity as President of the Eurogroup, the grouping of euro area finance ministers, Minister Donohoe discusses the challenges and opportunities for the economy of the euro area in 2024, as well as the Eurogroup’s work programme for the first half of the year which is focused on strengthening the 4 C’s: coordination; capital markets; competitiveness; and the common currency.

International tensions, proliferating security threats and talk of global conflict have become more common in recent years after decades of relative stability following the end of the Cold War. The rise of a more assertive China and intensifying cyber security threats are among two of the issues Nigel Inkster, formerly of MI6, has highlighted in his recent writings. In his presentation to the IIEA, he focuses on these matters along with the wider geopolitical climate. About the Speaker: Nigel Inkster CMG is Senior Advisor at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and a Director of Geopolitical and Intelligence Analysis at Enodo Economics. Previously, he served as Director of Operations and Intelligence for MI6 and served on the Board of MI6 for seven years. In 2017, Inkster was appointed to the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, participating in the drafting of its eight norms related to non-aggression in cyberspace. The author of The Great Decoupling: China, America and the Struggle for Technological Supremacy and China's Cyber Power, his lifelong fascination with China started when he studied the language and culture at Oxford.

'What looms for the Greater Middle East?' Great power competition is intensifying and democracy has lost its allure. Nowhere are these trends more evident than in what Robert D Kaplan calls the 'Greater Middle East'. In this IIEA Insights discussion he highlights some of the key points made in his magisterial survey of the region in 'The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy from the Mediterranean to China', his latest book published in 2023. He also discusses the future of Israel/Palestine, and that conflict’s wider implications in the post October 7 era.

In his speech, Dr David Nabarro reflects on local and national priorities regarding food systems transformation, an area where Ireland is an acknowledged leader. He also focuses on interconnected challenges such as climate action and sustainable development. Dr Nabarro presents his experience of the catalysing effect of systems thinking and adopting a people-centred approach when tackling inter-connected challenges, such as food systems transformation. He argues that such an approach must be adapted to the interests of people of the lowest incomes and with the least agency. Dr Nabarro concludes that this novel way of thinking and working together will have the greatest likelihood of long-term success. About the Speaker: Dr David Nabarro is Strategic Director of 4SD Foundation, Geneva; Professor of Global Health at Imperial College, London; and Special Envoy on COVID-19 for the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr Nabarro has served as Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza (2005-2014). He was Coordinator of the UN system’s High-Level Task Force on the Food Security Crisis 2009-2014 and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition and Coordinator of the Scale-up Nutrition Movement (2010-2014). In his early career, he served as Director for Human Development in the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

According to Admiral Rob Bauer, as the world faces unprecedented conflict, NATO is entering into a new era of collective defence. The Alliance is moving from an era in which everything was plannable, foreseeable, and predictable to an era in which anything can happen at any time, in any domain. In his address to the IIEA, Admiral Bauer argues that addressing this challenge will require a whole-of-society approach and a deep cooperation with Partners. We all need to be able to expect the unexpected, together. About the Speaker: Admiral Rob Bauer (Royal Netherlands Navy) is the 33rd Chair of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As the Military Adviser to the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council, Admiral Bauer is NATO’s most senior military officer. Previously, Admiral Bauer has served as Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces from 2017-2021. Admiral Bauer was Commissioned as an officer in the Royal Netherland’s Navy in 1984.

The Building Common Ground series was established by The John and Pat Hume Foundation with the aim of creating genuine and inclusive opportunities for dialogue and discussion which will enhance relationships in Northern Ireland, on the island and between Ireland and Britain. This discussion was hosted by the IIEA in Dublin, Thursday 22 February 2024 on the theme of ‘Reconciling Relations: Belfast, Dublin, London’. About the Speakers: Jarlath Kearney is a strategy advisor. Over the past decade, he has served as an independently appointed Equality Commissioner for Northern Ireland, a Parole Commissioner for Northern Ireland, a senior manager in the health service, an advisor on democratic reform projects sponsored by the European Commission and UK FCDO in the Balkans, and as a media contributor and regular columnist with The Irish News. Between 2007 and 2014, Jarlath was a ministerial policy advisor and special advisor in the Northern Ireland Executive, after which he ended any associations with party politics. Prior to that, he had spent 15 years in media, latterly as a daily political correspondent. Senator Emer Currie is the Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson for Special Education and Inclusion & Northern Ireland. She serves on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee and is the Chair of Sovereign Matters on the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly. David Graham is a former DUP Special Adviser and Belfast City Councillor. He also worked as Director of Communications and Media Relations at Glasgow Rangers FC. David now runs his own property and hospitality businesses with his wife.

In his address to the IIEA, George Monbiot discusses how humanity is living within an increasingly tight space, one in which 8 billion people and more need to be fed, within an Earth system whose planetary boundaries have already been breached, to a large extent as a result of food production. How do we maintain high yields, while radically reducing environmental impacts? In his address, Mr Monbiot shares some of his answers to this question. These answers are complex, taking into account social, political, economic, organisational and technological factors, and might not be what you would expect. About the Speaker: George Monbiot is an author, columnist at The Guardian, and environmental activist, whose current research focus is on the global food system. His best-selling books include Feral: Rewilding the land, sea and human life, Heat: how to stop the planet burning, and Out of the Wreckage: a new politics for an age of crisis. George was awarded the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2022. His latest book, Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet, draws on astonishing advances in soil ecology to explore pioneering ways to grow more food with less farming.