Past Events 2009
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21 January 2009 Addressing the Financial Crisis
Guest speaker: European Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market and Services, Charlie McCreevy
11 February 2009 The Climate Change Package
Guest speakers: Avril Doyle MEP (European Parliament Rapporteur on Emissions Trading) and Peter Brennan IIEA
3 March 2009 The Future of Europe
Guest speakers: Andrew Duff MEP and Brendan Halligan Chair of the IIEA
31 March 2009 Reflections on Leaving Brussels
Guest speaker: Ambassador Bobby McDonagh Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union
12 May 2009 Can the European Parliament meet the challenges Europe faces?
Guest speaker: Julian Priestley Former Secretary General of the European Parliament
17 November 2009 Communicating Europe: lessons (to be) learnt from the Irish Referendum
Guest speakers: European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström and Olivia Buckley from the Yes campaign group ‘We Belong’
Download the report of this event and the December newsletter here.
6th October 2009 Ireland in the Aftermath of the Irish Referendum
It the first event held under the responsibility of the new IIEA Brussels Branch committee, the ‘new’ Irish members of the European Parliament - Nessa Childers MEP, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher MEP, Joe Higgins MEP, Alan Kelly MEP and Sean Kelly MEP - reflected on the implications of the Irish referendum vote of 2 October for Ireland and Europe. Not surprisingly, The Centre, which kindly hosted the event, was packed to the rafters, with standing room only for the later arrivals. Distinguished members of the audience included Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and a leading member of the yes campaign in Ireland, and Professor Nikiforos Diamandouros, the European Ombudsman.
As the event was held only a few days after the referendum, the mood of most MEPs was euphoric. Most speakers commented on the positive aspects of the referendum: it went some way towards curing the ‘information deficit’ in Ireland as regards how the EU works. As such, the referendum made the EU more understandable and relevant to the Irish people. Of course, not all comments were positive. For some, namely Joe Higgins MEP, the referendum was "not a vindication but a denigration of Irish democracy". However, even in this context, the shared aim of the MEPs for the future is to ensure that policies and powers at EU level are "owned" by the people.
The questions from the audience touched on what should be the ideal attributes for the new European Council president, on the social divide within Ireland which was reflected in a greater number of affluent voters voting yes compared to less affluent voters, on the advantages and disadvantages of retaining a Commissioner for every member state and on whether referenda are an appropriate means of deciding on issues as complex as the Lisbon Treaty.
In concluding remarks the European Ombudsman, Professor Nikiforos Diamandouros, commented that referenda constitute a particularly complex instrument through which modern democracies determine public policy. Their usefulness, as mechanisms of democratic legitimacy, varies greatly from state to state, depending on their legal, constitutional and political culture.
The IIEA Brussels wishes to thank The Centre for hosting the event. Their support is very much appreciated.
