Fostering a Fair Recovery and Building Resilience: The Path Forward for Ireland and the EU

On Friday, 16 July 2021, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen visited Ireland to announce the Commission had approved almost €1 billion in funding to finance Ireland’s recovery from COVID-19. The funding is drawn from NextGenerationEU, the EU’s €750 billion recovery fund, which aims to support a sustainable, equitable recovery across the EU as well as advance the green and digital transitions over the next decade. In this joint address, which is co-organised by the IIEA and the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni and Minister Michael McGrath discuss how NextGenerationEU will support a transformation in Irish society and foster a resilient and fair recovery across the EU. The event was chaired by Dr Frances Ruane, Chairperson of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council.

About the Speakers:

Paolo Gentiloni has been European Commissioner for Economy since December 2019. He served as Prime Minister of Italy (2016-2018), Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2014-2016), Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies (2013-2014) and Minister of Communications (2006-2008). Previously he was Spokesperson for the Margherita Party (2002-2007), Chairman of the Broadcasting Services Watchdog Committee (2005-2006), Spokesperson for the Mayor of Rome and Commissioner in the City of Rome (1993-2000). He also previously worked as a professional journalist. Born in 1954, Gentiloni graduated in Political Sciences from La Sapienza, Rome.

Michael McGrath is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and is currently a TD for Cork South Central. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the first attempt in 2007 and has been re-elected in every election since, in 2011, 2016 and 2020. In his time in the Dáil, Michael has served as Opposition Finance spokesperson and on a number of Oireachtas committees including the Finance Committee, the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, the European Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, he oversees close to €90 billion in Government spending, the implementation of the National Development Plan, drives the programme of public service reform, and has a key role in decisions made across government. Michael is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a Commerce degree from University College Cork.