IIEA Talks

Oppressive governments are reaching across borders to harass and persecute their citizens and exiles. Transnational repression has become a normal and institutionalised practice for dozens of countries that seek to control their citizens abroad. This repression can include intimidation, harassment, abductions, and assassinations. In this event, Yana Gorokhovskaia, Research Director, Strategy and D...

On 3-4 April 2025, the first ever EU-Central Asia Summit took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. At the summit, political leaders of the EU and Central Asian countries took the landmark step to upgrade relations between the two regions to a strategic partnership. In this IIEA webinar, Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, addresses what it means to have a strategic partnership...

In a bid to ensure both fairness and competitiveness, EU policymakers have been grappling with how best to protect consumers online while also boosting the digital economy. Digital services and online marketplaces, advertising, and personalisation have facilitated business growth and innovation but have also driven concerns about risks for consumers and about the misuse of personal data. Policymak...

'Europe from the Inside' In the final edition of IIEA Insights before the summer break, recently retired Head of the European Commission’s Representation Office in Dublin, Barbara Nolan, will offer reflections from her decades-long career in the EU civil service. In the discussion, she will examine the changing role of the European Commission and other EU institutions; power dynamics within the bl...

Ireland is home to a high-performing life sciences industry, offering outstanding opportunities for both economic development and public health. Unlike other European countries, however, Ireland does not have a holistic vision for the future of the sector. This is set to change, as the Government has promised to develop a national life sciences strategy. Our European peers have already adopted amb...

In 2024 there were more internet shutdowns, occurring in more countries, than ever before. In this event, Felicia Anthonio, KeepItOn Campaign Manager at Access Now, and Zach Rosson, KeepItOn Data and Research Lead at Access Now, outline Access Now’s latest report: Emboldened offenders, endangered communities: internet shutdowns in 2024. This report documents internet shutdowns and their often deva...

The emergence of quantum technologies may accelerate technological development and have far-reaching economic and societal impacts. In this event, Dr Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director for Emerging and Enabling Technologies, DG CONNECT, in the European Commission discusses EU policies toward quantum technologies, including the forthcoming EU Quantum Strategy and the EU Quantum Act. Mr Kalbe focuses par...

Ireland’s ambitions to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require a fundamental transformation of its energy systems, including its gas network. Renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane can play an important role in this transition and in future-proofing Ireland’s energy supply. Renewable gases have the potential to enable sectors that cannot easily electrify to decarbonise. They...

In his online address to the IIEA, Professor Avi Shlaim discusses his new book, Genocide in Gaza: Israel’s Long War on Palestine, a Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year 2024. In the book, Avi Shlaim places Israel’s policy towards the Gaza Strip under an uncompromising lens, arguing that Israel has gone beyond land-grabbing and ethnic cleansing to now committing genocide. As a collection of e...

In her address to the IIEA, Ruth Owen, Deputy Director at FEANTSA, examines the European Union’s efforts to address homelessness through its evolving affordable housing agenda. As the EU has no direct competence in housing, the responsibility for policies on and investment in social and affordable housing remains with the Member States. Drawing on over a decade of experience in homelessness policy...

A Keynote Address by Stephen Doughty, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories About the Speaker: Stephen Doughty was appointed Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in July 2024. Mr Doughty was first elected as Welsh Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Pen...

In this event, Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College Dublin, presents the key themes from his upcoming paper Designing Agricultural Climate Policy in Ireland - From 2030 to Net Zero. The paper, which is the third in the IIEA’s Pathways project, examines the strategic and institutional challenges involved in defining appropriate long-term targets for a...

New Zealand’s emissions profile is even more heavily weighted towards biogenic emissions than Ireland’s. However, the country’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) has only targeted emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel. Attempts to extend it to agricultural emissions have been controversial and unsuccessful to date although current government policy is to target methane emissions by 2030. The E...

'The Israel-Iran Conflict: Implications and Outcomes' The forthcoming edition of IIEA insights will focus on the Middle-East's latest conflict and its consequences for the region, Europe, Ireland, and the global economy. Rory Montgomery, a former ambassador and Political Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, will look at the implications for Ireland and Europe; Laurence Norman, who has fo...

Is Ireland ready for the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? This event will explore both the opportunities and risks of AI for people and firms in Ireland. This expert panel discusses how Ireland can ensure that AI is harnessed in a safe manner that is aligned with fundamental rights and European values. The panel will also discuss emerging policy issues, including the implementation and supervi...

For the past 80 years, the US dollar has held the status of the world’s primary reserve currency. However, following President Trump and his administration’s policies, this status currently looks at risk. In his address to the IIEA, Professor Kenneth Rogoff discusses his new book Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider’s View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead. Professor...

In his address to the IIEA, Fintan Slye discusses NESO’s new organisation and how it is supporting the UK Government’s ambitions to achieve clean power by 2030. Fintan Slye also touches upon UK-Ireland and UK-EU energy cooperation, and NESO’s recent work on reforming the process for connecting to the electricity transmission system. About the Speaker: Fintan Slye is the Chief Executive Officer of...

'The Economic Outlook at Mid-Year' Despite intense uncertainty in the international trading system and heightened geopolitical tensions, both the Irish and global economies proved resilient in the first half of 2025. As we move into the second half of the year, Dan O’Brien, the IIEA’s Chief Economist, will present his economic outlook during the next event in the Institute’s Insights series. He wi...

Europe faces an acute and growing threat. The EU Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 outlines how Europe will need to do more to ensure to protect European citizens. This IIEA panel discusses how Europe can develop its capabilities. Moreover, it explores how European Member States can collaborate effectively to replenish diminished stocks of equipment to not only provide for thei...

'The Value of the Revised Draft Declaration on International Solidarity as a Corrective to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum' The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets forth a solidarity mechanism that seeks to ameliorate inequalities in responsibility for processing asylum claims. NGOs are concerned that States are pursuing externalisation agreements and strengthening border security arrangement...

After almost two-decades of floundering negotiations, talks on an EU-India Free Trade Agreement have begun to gather momentum. Both sides seek alliances that cover not only trade relations but greater security cooperation and a shared technology agenda. In a signal of its strategic priorities, the College of Commissioners paid a first-of-its-kind visit to India in February 2025, where Prime Minist...

Join the IIEA for the launch of its second Pathways Paper, where Matt O’Neill, Climate Project Lead, presents the key themes from Farm to Finance: The Processor–Farmer Nexus in Ireland’s Agricultural Climate Transition. The paper explores the relationship between farmers and food processors in relation to the climate transition within Agriculture. It draws on interviews with stakeholders and secto...

This lecture touches on the changing global focus of development cooperation, the reform processes that have been put in place, and Ireland’s perspective on the future of development. The Minister of State speaks about Ireland’s role in key events this year, such as the upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Seville, the G20 Development Working Group and COP 30 to be held in Brazil in No...

'Will Multinational American Corporations Become Less Multinational?' The US political and economic policy-making environment has changed dramatically in 2025, with a shift against globalisation among the most potentially impactful changes being executed by the current administration. US multinational corporations are reassessing their global operations in the light of tariffs, pressure from the U...

On 18 May 2025, Romania held a pivotal presidential runoff between George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), and Nicușor Dan, the pro-European independent and mayor of Bucharest. This election followed the annulment of the 2024 vote due to allegations of foreign interference, leading to heightened political tension and public scrutiny. Simion’s first-round v...