IIEA Talks

'Ireland’s Public Finances: Issues and Challenges' Sebastian Barnes, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist

A decade ago, the eyes of the world watched as the ‘Euromaidan’ protests – which centred around the subject of Ukrainian integration into the European Union (EU) – were followed by Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Putin’s subsequent invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has led to the largest war on European soil since World War II. In this virtual keynote address, Olga Stefanishyna, Deputy Pr...

In 2023, the UN Human Rights Office is running a year-long initiative to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While the Declaration is a milestone document in the history of human rights, today the world is facing a multitude of intersecting crises which threaten the universal enjoyment of human rights, even as human rights offer powerful tools to address and ove...

In this event, an expert panel explores how media pluralism and independence can be maintained amidst the digital transformation and against the background of deteriorating media freedom across Europe. This panel examines how the European Commission’s European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) might help to protect media independence and pluralism amidst the digital transformation and assesses the EMFA’s i...

It is well documented that women’s participation in democratic transitions improves the likelihood of peace negotiations arriving at settlements and parties reaching sustainable agreements. While there have been landmark achievements since the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda was established through the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, there is a need for honest reflection on rem...

Ireland stands at a critical juncture on the path toward a cleaner, greener economy, as policymakers strive to simultaneously meet climate commitments, protect energy security, and deliver a just transition for consumers. In the first lecture of the 2023 REthink Energy lecture series, which is co-organised by the IIEA and ESB, Professor David Newbery delivers an address on the subject of Electrici...

According to José Manuel Campa, Chairperson of the EBA, the increase in interest rates and uncertain macroeconomic environment have resulted in the materialisation of some risks impacting the banking sector. After years of increased resilience, the ability of the EU banking sector to weather these challenges is paramount to ensure economic resilience. A strong banking system will also provide supp...

In this third event in a series of webinars, co-organised by the IIEA and the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) in Ireland, an expert panel of speakers discusses the future of work and the effects that digitalisation will have on the working lives of citizens throughout the Union and its Member States. The panel also discusses the crucial role that the European Parliament can, and is, play...

Social protection is a set of policies and programmes designed to reduce and prevent poverty and vulnerability over a lifetime and has consistently proved to be an indispensable policy tool for realising multiple human rights. It ensures that people can navigate everyday life challenges with equanimity and economic security and equips societies to deal with crises. In his keynote address to the II...

Othon Anastasakis, Director of South East European Studies at Oxford; Fiona Mullen, founder of Sapienta Economics; and Kenneth Thompson, former Irish ambassador to Turkey, in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist

A strong role for private financing through deep and liquid capital markets will be essential for meeting the EU’s economic and social policy objectives. In his address to the IIEA, John Berrigan, Director-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission, outlines the importance of moving ahead on the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and assesses...

Politics in the US has become ever more polarised and opinion polls show that American societal values are undergoing a period of accelerating change. Leading pollster, political consultant and commentator, Frank Luntz, discusses these changes and what is driving them. He also assesses the prospects of the political centre-ground in the US being rebuilt. Finally, he considers the possible candidat...

Timothy Garton Ash’s Homelands: A Personal History of Europe (The Bodley Head - Penguin Books) charts events in recent European history from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the Brexit referendum of 2016, with personal insights and anecdotes from the memories of the author. Homelands explores “Europe” beyond the borders of the EU, navigating the continent’s accomplishments and crises ove...

As the world grapples with the impact of overlapping crises, in September 2023, at the United Nations, political leaders will gather to take stock of their collective progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. While great progress has been made on a number of fronts, this has stalled in recent years, with new challenges reversing gains made towards achieving Agenda 2030. The pro...

In the lead up to and since the invasion of Ukraine over a year ago, the critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine and its allies has been targeted through both cyber and kinetic means. Emerging and disruptive technology, such as drones and hypersonic missiles, have been used on the battlefield, and cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns against partner states are on the rise. In her remarks,...

In this interview, IIEA Researcher, Leanne Digney, speaks to UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, about the mandate of her office and the current challenges being faced by human rights defenders worldwide. This interview is part of the Global Europe UN podcast series which is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Joseph Quinlan, Managing Director and Head of Market Strategy for the Chief Investment Office at Bank of America & Michael O’Sullivan, Managing Partner at Harvest Innovation Advisory and a Senior Adviser at LandFall Strategy and WestExec Advisers, in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist

From a shared Celtic past, to their politically and economically developed present, there is much that links Scotland and Ireland. The cultural and historical ties between Scotland and Northern Ireland are particularly close. In the past 10 years, and recently accelerated by Brexit, discussion and debate around the UK’s constitutional future have intensified. In particular, questions arise as to t...

Sudan is in the grip of escalating armed conflict and on teetering on the edge of civil war. Two rival armed forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fighting in the capital, Khartoum and in regional cities and towns across the country. Both are heavily armed and have regional backers. The crisis has its origins in Sudan’s failed internationally-b...

In his address to the IIEA, Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations (UN) Envoy on Technology, discusses the UN’s work in relation to the digital transformation and how digital technologies can affect peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. Mr Gill also discusses plans to create a Global Digital Compact at the UN Summit of the Future that is scheduled to take place in Septembe...

In this second event in a series of webinars co-organised by the IIEA and the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) in Ireland, an expert panel of speakers discusses how the EU can help to deliver a sustainable and just energy transition for the Union and its Member States and citizens. The panel also discusses the crucial role that the European Parliament is playing in this transition. Speake...

Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has drastically changed the European security equation, prompting many European countries to re-prioritise security and defence policy. Poland has been among the EU's largest contributors of support to Ukraine in its defence against Russia's unprovoked war of aggression. Furthermore, as one of Europe's top military spenders in terms of its GDP, Poland is playin...

In his address to the IIEA, Jón Danielsson discusses the ideas contained within his new book, The Illusion of Control: Why Financial Crises Happen, and What We Can (and Can’t) Do About It. Prof. Danielsson challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding financial risk, and share his belief that easy solutions to control the financial system are doomed to fail. Instead of the buffers against shocks,...

Russia and Ukraine have followed very different approaches to command during the course of their war. Drawing on his new book, Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine, Lawrence Freedman compares these approaches, looking at the respective role of Presidents Putin and Zelensky, along with the development and implementation of their military strategies. About the Speaker:...

Eoin Drea,Senior Researcher in the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, Hélène Conway-Mouret, member of the French Senate and Laurence Norman, reporter at The Wall Street Journal, in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist.