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Speakers 2012

• Dr Alan Ahearne

  
  
  

  Lecturer in economics at the School of Business and Economics, NUI Galway,  Research Fellow, Brueghel Institute, Brussels. Research Associate at the institute for international Studies TCD and Editor of the Policy section of the Economic and Social Review.  He is a Member of the Commission of the Central Bank and served as Special Advisor to Minister for Finance, the late Brian Lenihan, from 2009-2011.  Formerly, he was Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington DC and has taught economics at UCD, DCU and the Univ of Limerick.

• Joan Burton TD

  
  
  

  Minister for Social Protection.  Was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1992 as a Labour Party TD for Dublin West. She was a lecturer in accountancy in the Dublin Institute of Technology before becoming a full time public representative.  Was Minister of State in Foreign Affairs 1994-7 and Minister of  State in Social Welfare 1992-5. She is Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

• Elaine Byrne

  
  
  

  Lectures in Political Science Department of TCD, author of ‘Political Corruption in Ireland 1922-2010’, published earlier  this year.  She has worked as a consultant for the anti-corruption unit of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Communication for Governance and  Accountability Program (CommGAP) at the World Bank.

• Caroline Casey

  
  
  

  Previously a management consultant with Accenture, she founded The Aisling Foundation (later to become Kanchi) the aim of which was to promote the ability of people with disabilities, focusing on the possibilities of employment in the private sector.  Being herself visually impaired, she founded  the O2 Ability Awards in 2005.  She has been the recipient of Young Global Leader Award at World Economic Forum in Davos as well as of an ESB Rehab People of the Year Award.

• Madeleine Clarke

  
  
  

  Founder, Genio; former Deputy CEO, Barnardos; Co-Founder, Children’s Rights Alliance. Operating across a range of social sectors, the Genio Trust combines and manages government and private investment to achieve and scale solutions to social problems.

• Professor John Coakley

  
  
  

  Former Head of the School of Politics & International Relations UCD, former Secretary General International Political Science Association.  Publications include ‘Politics in the Republic of Ireland’

• Professor Neil Collins

  
  
  

  Dean of the faculty of Government in UCC.  Co-author with Mary O’Shea of ‘Understanding Corruption in Irish Politics’, ‘Modernising Irish Government ‘ (with T. Cradden and P. Butler) and  ‘Understanding Chinese Politics’ (with A. Cottey)

• Niall Collins TD

  
  
  

  Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Environment, Community and Local Government.  Elected to the Dáil for the Limerick constituency in 2007, he is an accountant by profession, and a former lecturer in business in Limerick Institute of Technology.

  Photo Credit: Mike Dwane

• John Concannon

  
  
  

  Director of Market Development for Fáilte Ireland, Chairperson of Gaisce, the President’s national challenge award for young people aged 15-25

• Simon Coveney TD

  
  
  

  Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  He was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in a by-election for Cork South Central in October 1998, following the death of his father Hugh.  Elected to the European Parliament in 2004.  Led the Sail Chernobyl Project 30,000 miles around the world, raising £500,000 for the charity.

  Photo Credit: Niall Carson