IIEA Talks

European markets represent significant diversification opportunities for Irish companies. As Ireland prepares to celebrate 50 years since joining the EEC, the forerunner to the EU, this webinar outlines what the EU can do for Irish SMEs. This virtual event, which is the opening seminar of the 2022 Europe is our Future Series co-organised by the IIEA and Enterprise Ireland, provides an overview of the benefits of trading and doing business in the EU Single Market and will discuss the funding opportunities the EU provides for Irish SMEs. The seminar was chaired by Joe Lynam, Business Editor at Newstalk. About the Speakers: Speakers at the seminar include: Frances Fitzgerald MEP, Member of the European Parliament for Dublin Robert Schroder, Head of External Communications for the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) Daniela Angione, Research and Grants Officer, Innopharma Anne Lanigan, Regional Director for the Eurozone, Central and Eastern Europe, Enterprise Ireland Sonia Neary, CEO of Wellola Margaret Rae, Founder of Konree Innovation

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks a significant moment of reflection by Member States and the EU on how best to defend Europe in a time of existential crisis. As the EU faces an increasingly diverse threat spectrum, Mr Herczynski discusses the ways in which the EU is cooperating with other multilateral organisations, such as NATO, to enhance Europe’s security. About the Speaker: Pawel Herczynski is Managing Director for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response services at the European External Action Service (EEAS). He was formerly the Director of Conflict Prevention and Security Policy in the EEAS and previously served as Ambassador to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on behalf of the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU.

In her address to the IIEA, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political), Ms. Mette Knudsen, discusses the current political situation in Afghanistan and efforts of the United Nations to support the people of Afghanistan. About the Speaker: Mette Knudsen was appointed by the Secretary-General as Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan with UNAMA in January 2021. Prior to her appointment, she served as Ambassador of Denmark to Afghanistan. She has held several senior positions with Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Ambassador of Denmark to Kenya, Seychelles, Eritrea and Somalia. Ms. Knudsen is a member of the Nordic Women Mediators – Denmark.

This webinar explores the context and potential implications of the 2022 French Presidential elections, with the first round scheduled to take place on 10 April 2022, and what this may mean for the future of France, Ireland, and the EU. Dr. Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan explores the EU level implications of the election, and Lara Marlowe discusses the impact that the election may have on internal political dynamics in France. About the Speakers: Lara Marlowe is a Paris-based foreign correspondent for The Irish Times. As a journalist for more than three decades, she has lived in Paris, the Middle East and Washington D.C. Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan is a lecturer in European politics in the Department of Government (UCC).

Global drivers of migration such as economic disparities, environmental degradation, and political instability do not affect men and women  equally, and exacerbate historical gender inequalities. In this address to the IIEA, Vice President Ramirez discusses Colombia’s work in promoting economic and social reconstruction strategies to strengthen female participation. She also highlights Colombia’s experience during the Venezuelan refugee crisis. Colombia has taken in over 1.8 million Venezuelan refugees, 50% of which are women, and offered them temporary protective status. Vice President Ramirez describes how, using a gender-based approach, the Colombian strategy has enabled Venezuelan refugees to contribute to Colombian society and to access healthcare and other essential services. This event is co-organised with the Embassy of Colombia in Ireland. About the Speaker: Marta-Lucía Ramírez is the first woman to be elected and serve as Deputy Head of State and Government (Vice President) in the history of Colombia. In that capacity, she has sought to improve transparency, fight corruption, achieve gender equity, improve infrastructure, and increase economic growth. In May 2021 she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. Previously, she served as Colombia’s Minister of Trade (1998), Colombian Ambassador to France (2002), Minister of Defence (2002-2003) and Senator (2006-2009). As the first and only woman to have served as Minister of Defence she created the Armed Forces’ School of Human Rights and sought to promote women in service by allowing them to reach the rank of general for the first time in Colombian history.

Against the backdrop of Ireland’s decision to join the OECD/G20 agreement on international corporation tax and the economic recovery from COVID-19, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD delivers a keynote address to the IIEA on the future of Ireland’s industrial policy. The Tánaiste addresses how global developments will shape Ireland’s strategy to continue to attract high-value foreign direct investment, how the Government will support indigenous growth post-pandemic and will outline Ireland’s approach to trade policy as a member of an EU that is embracing greater ‘strategic autonomy’. About the Speaker: Leo Varadkar TD is the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment having been appointed in June 2020. He was appointed the Leader of Fine Gael having been elected to the position by the Party’s Electoral College system in 2017. He was the youngest ever Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020. He previously served as Minister for Social Protection from May 2016 to June 2017, and Minister for Health from July 2014 to May 2016. He served as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport from March 2011 to July 2014. Mr Varadkar was first elected to Dáil Eireann in 2007 and is a TD for Dublin West.

In the coming decades, the role of further and higher education, including an increased emphasis on apprenticeships and further education and training (FET), will be critical in meeting modern skills and research needs in the global economy. It will also play a central role in ensuring Ireland remains competitive internationally. In its first Young Professionals Network (YPN) event of 2022, the IIEA welcomes Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science who discusses the future of further and higher education in Ireland. About the Speaker: Simon Harris TD is a native of County Wicklow and was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2011 General Election as the youngest member of the 31st Dáil. He was reelected in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Deputy Harris has served as Minister of State in the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of the Taoiseach with Special Responsibility for OPW, Public Procurement and International Banking (including IFSC). Deputy Harris was Minister for Health in 2016 to 2020 during the first wave of Ireland’s Covid-19 pandemic. In his present role as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Minister Harris has prioritised the delivery of regional technological universities, reform and integration of the third level system including apprenticeships, advancing social inclusion and equality in education and developing Ireland’s human capital through education, skills and training.

International data flows play a central role in the European economy, particularly when it comes to the processes of digitalisation. At the same time, international flows of personal data can present risks to the fundamental rights of European citizens. Legal conflicts concerning international data flows can also pose uncertainties for businesses, as was demonstrated by the Schrems II judgement of July 2020. In this event an expert panel discusses how Europe can best promote the benefits of international data flows while protecting European citizens’ fundamental rights. This expert panel includes: Bruno Gencarelli, Head of Unit for International Data Flows and Protection Una Fitzpatrick, Director of Technology Ireland

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the largest combined arms operation to take place in Europe since the Second World War, and a watershed moment in modern European history. It prompts questions about whether Europe is exiting the era of the "Long Peace" and entering a more turbulent epoch. This conflict has led EU Member States, such as Germany, to review national positions on defence, while traditionally non-aligned states are evaluating their own status in this new geopolitical landscape. This IIEA panel discusses Russia’s war in Ukraine and analyses the implications for European and Irish security and defence.     About the Speakers:  Donnacha Ó Beacháin is a professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University where he lectures on post-Soviet politics and unrecognised states. He has been principal investigator of two major EU-funded projects focusing on the post-Soviet space and is the author of the forthcoming publication The Domestic Politics of Post-Soviet Unrecognised States which is due to be published in 2023.  Judy Dempsey is a Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe. Judy Dempsey has worked for the International Herald Tribune as a columnist. She was the diplomatic correspondent for the Financial Times covering NATO and European Union enlargement. She is also the author of the book The Merkel Phenomenon published in 2013.  Ben Tonra is a professor of International Relations at UCD School of Politics and International Relations. There, Professor Tonra teaches, researches and publishes in European foreign, security and defence policy, Irish foreign, security and defence policy and International Relations theory.

In his annual State of the Union address to the IIEA, Minister Coveney will reflect on the EU’s central role in tackling the most pressing issues of our day including Conflict, Climate and Covid-19. While he adverts to the successful role that the EU has played around vaccine leadership and pandemic recovery, he warns that we cannot be naïve to the difficulty of the threats we face. He recalls that this moment reminds us that neither peace nor progress are inevitable, but that the experience of recent decades provides evidence that they are always possible. The Minister makes the case that the EU and its partners need to do better to stand up for their values and that these need to be reflected in actions and not just words. The Minister also reflects on the last 50 years of Ireland’s membership of the EU and how this has helped elevate Ireland to a position where it now has a respected and credible voice in international affairs. He argues that this privileged position comes with the responsibility that this voice should be used to continue to advocate for a principled, rules-based and just multi-lateral order. About the Speaker: Simon Coveney TD is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. He is also the Deputy Leader of Fine Gael. He previously served as Tánaiste from November 2017 to June 2020, and Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government as well as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. He was appointed as Minister for Defence for the first time in 2014 and for a second time in 2020. He represents the Cork South Central constituency.