31st ANNUAL MACGILL SUMMER SCHOOL 2011
TRANSFORMING IRELAND 2011-2016—THE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
Sunday July 24th
8.30 p.m.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF 2011 SUMMER SCHOOL
by the British Ambassador, H.E. Mr Julian King
8.50 p.m.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL JOHN HUME LECTURE
to be delivered by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD
9.30 p.m.
Concert with the Donegal Abbey Singers
Musical Director: Eileen Carr Accompanist: Pamela Patterson
followed by Reception(courtesy of the office of EU Commission
in Ireland)
Monday July 25th
11.00 a.m.
HAS THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN IRELAND CHANGED
FOREVER?
The 2011 General Election was the most extraordinary in the
history of the state particularly with the spectacularly poor
result for Fianna Fail and the fact that, for the first time,
Fine Gael was within reach of an absolute majority and the Labour
Party won its biggest number of seats ever. Are we
witnessing a realignment of Irish politics or just the temporary
manifestation of the electorate’s anger and frustration?
Frank Flannery, FG Director of Organization and Strategy
Noel Whelan, Barrister and Political Analyst
Senator Averil Power, FF spokesperson on political reform
Chair: Michael Daly, Editor-in-Chief, Donegal Democrat
1.00 p.m.
A tribute to Garret Fitzgerald and Brian Lenihan
2.30 p.m.
THE FUTURE OF IRISH BANKING?
The Nyberg Report has clearly stated that the old regulatory
regime did not appreciate the risks accumulating in the banking
system which should have been evident and action taken. As a
result, banks were allowed to lend and borrow recklessly leading
to economic catastrophe and ruin. Our banking sector continues to
be in deep crisis. What future is there for our banking sector and
can its reputation be restored? We hear the views of the man
appointed to ensure that what happened will not happen again.
Matthew Elderfield, Financial Regulator, The Central Bank
Chair: Margaret Sweeney, former CEO, Postbank
AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF THE IRISH ECONOMY NOW
The view of international financial institutions of
our economy and its capacity to recover and, in particular, of its
competitiveness, of the stability of its banking system, of the
debt-sustainability of the country and of its capacity to get its
finances in order, is all important to our future prospects. Kevin
Gardiner, who wrote the original ‘Celtic Tiger’ report in 1994 and
who knows Ireland well, is well placed to tell it as it is. What are
the prospects for our economy?
Kevin Gardiner, MD and Head of Global Investment Strategy
at Barclays Wealth in London
Chair: Margaret Sweeney, former CEO Postbank
4.00 p.m.
Launch of guidebooks by architect, Carole Pollard
on Liam McCormick’s seven Donegal churches
and guided visit to St Conal’s Church in Glenties.
Opening of exhibition of photos by Danish photographer, Flemming
Rasmussen, of McCormick’s churches
by Liz McManus, architect and former Minister of State who will
speak on “Memories of Liam McCormick”
5.30 p.m.
Welcome Reception and Information for all participants in
2011 MacGill School
8.30 p.m.
HOW LONG AND HOW HARD IS THE WAY TO RECOVERY?
Little if any growth is forecast for this year, huge borrowing to keep
the state viable continues unabated with a rising debt burden and
growing resistance to public spending cuts and any additional
taxation. The performance, though, of our exports offers some
encouraging signs. We need others.
Brian Hayes TD, Minister for State at Dept of Finance
Pearse Doherty TD, SF spokesperson on Finance
Joe Durkan, Economic and Social Research Institute(ESRI)
Chair: Sean Whelan, Economics Editor, RTE
Tuesday, July 26th
11.00 a.m.
THERE ARE MORE HARD DECISIONS TO BE MADE
It’s time for hard decisions. We face difficult choices in terms of
how Ireland is run. Can we get our public finances under
control, even by 2015? Can we afford salaries and professional
fees that are the highest in Europe? Can we rationalise more and
dispense with most of the quangos?
Colm McCarthy, Dept of Economics, UCD
Prof Philip Lane, Dept of Economics TCD
Brigid Laffan, Principal of the School of Humanities, UCD
David Begg, Gen. Sec. Irish Congress of Trade Unions(ICTU)
Chair: Sean Whelan, Economics Editor, RTE
2.30 p.m.
THE OUTLOOK FOR IRELAND IN THE EU/EURO ZONE?
What is the current state of Ireland/EU relations in the wake of
the bailout? Is there blame to be assigned to both sides? What
are the current stress points: corporate tax regime? Irish public
sector pay? Bailout interest rate? How will Ireland be affected by
Eurozone-wide stresses? Could there be a future within the EU but
not necessarily as a member of the euro area?
Per Callesen, former Danish Government Representative on IMF
Board, Governor of Danish Central Bank
Dr Donal Donovan, Adjunct Prof of Economics, Univ. of
Limerick, former Deputy Director IMF
Chair: Brigid Laffan, Principal of the School of Humanities, UCD
4.00 p.m.
TRANSFORMING OUR INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE AND
CREATING JOBS
The continuing growth of our exports and many of our jobs are
the results of foreign direct investment. What can we do
to ensure the continuation and growth of this vital sector in the
face of intense international competition?
Can we grow our indigenous industrial base? Can we encourage
local enterprise? Can we develop our own natural resources?
How can we provide capital to struggling medium and small
businesses in the absence of a capitalised banking sector?
Sean O’Driscoll, Chairman and CEO of Glen Dimplex Group
Dara Calleary TD, FF Spokesperson On Justice, Equality & Defence
Martin Murphy, CEO Hewlett Packard(Ireland) Ltd
Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation
Chair: Mary Finan, Chairman, Economic & Social Research Institute
8.30 p.m.
TRANSFORMING THE PUBLIC SECTOR-HOW AND WHEN?
How can we do more with less in the public sector? When will
the Croke Park agreement be fully implemented?
To what extent will it transform the public sector and will we
get fit for purpose public services? Can the role of the public
sector in our economic recovery be expanded and enhanced?
Dr Eddie Molloy, Management Consultant
Sean Fleming TD, FF spokesperson on public sector reform
Shay Cody, Gen. Sec. IMPACT
Robert Watt, Secretary-General, Dept of Public Expenditure & Reform
Chair: Ingrid Miley, Industrial Affairs Correspondent, RTE
Wednesday, July 27th
11.00 a.m.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD—A LOT DONE, MORE TO DO.
The growth and expansion of our agricultural co-operatives have
transformed many areas of rural and urban Ireland
Everyone agrees that agriculture is one of our greatest natural
resources and, with more development of its potential, could be
one of the main factors in our recovery.
Rowena Dwyer, Economist, Irish Farmers’ Assoc(IFA)
Prof Gerry Boyle, Director, Teagasc
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture & Food
Chair: TBA
4.00 p.m.
TRANSFORMING OUR POLITICS-HAVE WE THE WILL?
Much has been said in the past year about the need for political
and institutional reform.
The electoral system and the way in which government is
formed have been partly blamed for our economic crisis. Waste
and munificence have been the hallmark of our political
governance and our constituencies are over represented. The
way business is conducted in the Dail has been outdated and
inefficient. The Seanad is irrelevant and expensive.
Our political institutions need to be reshaped and reformed so
that more of the electorate take an interest in and have belief in
the democratic process.
Report from the ‘We the Citizens’ countrywide conventions
by Prof David Farrell and Caroline Erskine
Prof Peter Mair, Head of Dept of Politics, European University
Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party
Micheal Martin TD, Leader of Fianna Fail
Chair: Caroline Gill, Barrister, former deputy Ombudsman,
Financial Services, former Insurance Ombudsman
8.30 p.m.
TRANSFORMING EDUCATION WITH FEWER RESOURCES
The Programme for Government envisages increased access to
higher level education and building a knowledge society driven
by education. The OECD warns us about literacy levels and
the Minister for Education & Skills warns the teacher unions that
there are no extra resources. In other words we need innovation
and flexibility at all levels and we need reform of higher education
which is generally recognised to be a crucial part of our economic
future.
Dr Mary Canning, Deputy Chairperson, Higher Education
Authority(HEA), former education specialist World Bank
Prof Brian MacCraith, President Dublin City University(DCU)
Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills
Chair: Dr Don Thornhill, former Sec. Gen. Dept of Education,
former Head of Higher Education Authority(HEA)
Thursday, July 28th
11.00 a.m.
TOWARDS A SECOND REPUBLIC—IRISH POLITICS AFTER
THE CELTIC TIGER
A new book with above title will appear in October which analyses
Ireland’s economics, politics and society, drawing important
lessons from its cycles of boom and bust. Its authors, Prof. Peadar
Kirby, of the University of Limerick and Dr Mary Murphy of NUIM
Maynooth, expose the winners and losers from the current
Irish model of development and relate these outcomes to the use
of power by Irish elites. More than an analysis of the economic
disaster, the book also proposes new and more effective
institutions for Irish politics, the economy and society.
Dr Mary Murphy, Lecturer in Irish Politics at NUI Maynooth
will present the findings and conclusions contained in:
TOWARDS A SECOND REPUBLIC—IRISH POLITICS AFTER THE
CELTIC TIGER, followed by contributions on economics and
politics from other MacGill speakers and open discussion.
Chair: Anne Connolly, Director, Ageing Well Organisation
2.30 p.m.
THE FUTURE OF IRISH BANKING?
AIB will be ‘the second pillar’ in the proposed reconstructed
banking sector. It made a loss of €12 billion in 2010. The State
will have put more than €20 billion into the bank which is now
almost completely nationalised. Losses on loans have amounted
to more than €20 billion over three years. Plans for AIB include
the shedding of jobs so that by 2013 its staff will be half of what
it was three years ago as well as the closure of branches.
David Hodgkinson, Executive Chairman, Allied Irish Bank(AIB)
Chair: David Murphy, Business Editor, RTE
4.00 p.m.
TRANSFORMING SOCIAL PROTECTION
Unemployment remains extremely high at almost 15%.
Are there other alternatives to spending billions on social
welfare such as a fund to pay for community work and
meaningful training and educational schemes?
Are there any options for helping the unemployed to start
small businesses etc.? Can we continue paying such high
benefits to so many?
What lessons can we learn from other countries in Europe?
Blair Horan, Gen. Sec. Civil & Public Service Union(CPSU)
Prof Philip O’Connell, Head of Social Research, ESRI
Joan Burton TD, Minister for Social Protection
Chair: TBA
8.30 p.m.
TRANSFORMING THE HEALTH SYSTEM-CAN WE GET IT
RIGHT?
The Minister has begun tackling bureaucracy in the HSE by
abolishing its board and bringing the body back into the Dept. of
Health. The Government are committed to radical reform and in
particular to equity of access to health services through
universal health insurance. But how do we get there? Can the
vested interests in the health service be brought along and
how will it work?
Dr Ruth Barrington, CEO Dublin Molecular Medecine Centre
Author of: Health, Medecine and Politics 1900-1970
Member of Board of the think tank, TASC
Aileen O’Meara, Health Policy journalist, Sunday Business Post,
former RTE Health correspondent
John Armstrong, Lecturer in Health Policy, Erasmus University,
Rotterdam, Associate Lecturer in Health Policy, IPA
Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Health
Chair: Dr Donal de Buitleir, former Secretary to the Commission
on Taxation, member of the 2003 Commission on
Financial Mgt & Control Systems in the Health Service
Friday, July 29th
11.00 a.m.
IS IRELAND A COUNTRY FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN?
We have one of the youngest populations in Europe with one of
the highest birth rates in the EU. Many of our young are having to
emigrate. Some of them do so for more than economic reasons.
Are we creating a society with which future generations of youth
will be satisfied. Are they getting more fulfilment, participation
and involvement from the web than from the environment in which
they live and work? What is their view of politics and political
institutions and why do they not participate more? What do THEY
think about the way in which their country is administered? The
views of three youngish people eager to play a part in the life of this
country.
Ruairi McKiernan is the founder of the multi award-winning youth
Organisation, SpunOut.ie, providing information, support and
opportunities to hundreds of thousands of 16-25 year olds. He has a
degree in Human Resources Management
Andrea Pappin has worked in communications and the media and has
been in the employment of the Labour Party, the UN, the European
Movement and the Dept of Foreign Affairs. She has a BA in Politics &
History and a Masters in European Economic & Social Affairs
Ronan Lyons is an economist based at Balliol College, Oxford where he
is completing a doctorate. A graduate of TCD, he has worked for Irish
Aid, the National Competitiveness Council, IBM. He has been
involved with the property website, daft.ie. Earlier this year, he co-
edited with Ed Burke, NEXT GENERATION IRELAND.
Chair: Gregg O’Neill, recently qualified teacher. Was Director of
Organisation for the non-party Ireland for Europe campaign. Holds a
BA in History, an MA in Anglo-Irish relations and a Postgrad Diploma
in Education.
4.00 p.m.
CONCERT
Light Classical Songs for a Summer Evening with
Deborah Cunningham, Soprano and Paul Martin, Bass
Accompanist: Evan McGarrigle
8.30 p.m.
TRANSFORMING IRELAND 2011-2016—THE ROLE OF
UACHTARAN NA hEIREANN ?
The role of the President of Ireland has never been more crucial
for inspiring the citizens to build a country of which we can all
be proud in 2016. A healthy economy providing life-enriching
jobs for our youth is essential to restore their confidence and
morale. Our institutions need to be reformed and those who work
in them reinvigorated with a new sense of purpose. Our political
system must be radically renewed so that it provides good,
effective, fair and transparent government. We must make our
health and education systems the best in the world. We must
bring about a greater awareness of and respect for our unique
environment which is increasingly under threat. We must rid the
streets of our towns and cities of drugs, binge drinking and
violence. We must nurture a spirit of citizenship and volunteerism
and rebuild our communities and create a fair and just society that
cherishes all its children equally. We must restore the good name
of our country in Europe and throughout the world. The President
of Ireland, whilst respecting Bunreacht na hEireann, can and must
contribute in a significant way to building a better Ireland.
CONTRIBUTORS TO BE ARRANGED
Chair: Sean O’Rourke RTE
Please note that all events are held in the Highlands Hotel unless otherwise stated.
Please also note that all sessions will be webcast live and available on the websites:
www.macgillsummerschool.com and www.donegalcoco.ie