Global Irish Economic Forum

Last updated

Global Irish Economic Forum
Global Irish Economic Forum 2009 logo.jpg
Official logo of the conference
Date18–20 September 2009
Cities Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland
ParticipantsVarious Irish and international figures from the worlds of business and culture
Founder David McWilliams

The Global Irish Economic Forum was a conference held in Dublin, Ireland in 2009 and 2011. Inspired by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, [1] international figures from the worlds of business and culture attend the event. The first Forum was held at Farmleigh in Dublin's Phoenix Park from 18 to 20 September 2009, and was given widespread coverage by RTÉ. [2] The second forum was held at Dublin Castle in 2011.

Contents

Background

The idea for the Forum was conceived by economist David McWilliams who then informed the Irish Government. [3] [4] [5] The hosting of the event caused a political disagreement between Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan. [3] The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment sought successful members of the Irish diaspora, with Taoiseach Brian Cowen personally inviting them to attend the event in April. [3] [4] However, Martin claimed that the "global Irish family" was his department's responsibility. [3] Martin launched the event on the afternoon of 1 September 2009. [6]

Guests

Guests pay their own expenses. [4] [5] [7] Attendees have come from Argentina, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, the Middle East and New Zealand. [4] Michael O'Leary was notably absent because of his lack of popularity with the Irish Government. [8] In alphabetical order, notable guests with international connections include:

2009 Forum

Events

Taoiseach Brian Cowen gave the opening address, [7] talking about the concept of a smart economy. [5] A panel discussion then took place on the topic of "the global economy: positioning Ireland for the upturn" and this was followed by further panel discussions on "Ireland—the innovation island", "promoting brand Ireland through our global cultural profile", "Ireland’s image abroad: what is it now, how can it be improved and what role can new media play" and "Ireland and its Diaspora: harnessing unique resource". [5]

Those attending also visited Áras an Uachtaráin for a meeting with President of Ireland Mary McAleese and Mary Coughlan presented a meal at Dublin Castle. [3] [5] [13]

Guests will also attend the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final at Croke Park on 20 September. [5] [8] Micheál Martin, whose constituency is Cork South-Central, described it as "a piece of opportunistic planning by yours truly in anticipation that Cork would reach the final". [5]

Controversies

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan was ridiculed in the Irish media after crediting Albert Einstein for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. [14] At the launch on 17 September, she made the comparison "like Einstein explaining his theory of evolution". [14] The incident prompted comparisons with American politicians such as Dan Quayle and Sarah Palin, with the Evening Herald referring to Coughlan in a derogatory manner as a "lovely girl" and saying she was "Ireland's own version" of Palin. [15] [16] The error came in the same week as she referred to her Green Party coalition partners as "the vegetables" during an Irish language radio interview. [14]

In an interview with Bloomberg Television at the Forum, shareholder Denis O'Brien said Independent News & Media might shut down its flagship London newspaper The Independent by the end of 2009, [17] saying it was "irrelevant" and that nobody wanted to read it. [18] O'Brien also advocated a Yes vote during the second Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon, claiming it was "essential for setting Ireland on the path to growth". [19]

Craig Barrett, former CEO and chairman of Intel Corporation, warned delegates that Ireland was spending "far too little" on education and that "schools are a bigger problem than banking". [19] Taoiseach Brian Cowen seemed to agree with Barrett. [19]

Bob Geldof said countries of a similar size to Ireland, some impoverished, were spending as much as 6 per cent on research and development but that Ireland spends just 2 per cent. [19] He also said Mary Coughlan had "a lovely pair of legs" which caused her to blush. [20]

On the second day of the forum, Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen expressed his disagreement with proposed cuts in public sending which were suggested by the McCarthy Report. [11] [21] Neil Jordan said Ireland's culture had not disappointed the country in the same way as institutions such as the banks and the Church had done so. [11] [21] Denis O'Brien said Ireland's culture was the key to success, saying his Digicell group obtained a Samoan licence because the Prime Minister's education had come from Irish priests: "We are famous for our writers, our artists, our poets and we are not famous for much else". [21] [22] There was a consensus amongst those attending that Ireland's banks needed to be reformed. [9] Micheál Martin, in his closing remarks to the Forum, said the contributions of the delegates "will be taken forward and action will be taken", spoke of his hopes to establish an "online portal for a virtual community of people of Irish descent to stay in touch" and stated he would also focus on non-traditional countries of the Irish diaspora such as Russia. [23]

Reaction

President Mary McAleese praised the ""interest in and commitment to" of those who attended, saying the event showed that Ireland is "considerably more than an island on the edge of Europe, but the centre of a vast networked community". [13]

Martin Murphy, managing director of Hewlitt-Packard Ireland, saw it as an opportunity to "truly begin positioning this small, export-driven country for real and sustained economic renewal and growth". [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taoiseach</span> Head of government of Ireland

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann and the office-holder must retain the support of a majority in the Dáil to remain in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steward's Lodge</span> Residence of Taoiseach of Ireland

The Steward's Lodge is a house which was originally part of the Farmleigh estate, alongside the Phoenix Park in Dublin. It is sometimes used as a residence by the Taoiseach of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tánaiste</span> Deputy head of the government of Ireland

The Tánaiste is the second-ranking member of the government of Ireland and the holder of its second-most senior office. They are the equivalent of a deputy prime minister in other parliamentary systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Cowen</span> Taoiseach from 2008 to 2011

Brian Bernard Cowen is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011. Cowen served as a TD for the constituency of Laois–Offaly from 1984 to 2011 and served in several ministerial roles between 1992 and 2011, including as Minister for Finance from 2004 to 2008 and Tánaiste from 2007 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micheál Martin</span> Irish politician (born 1960)

Micheál Martin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who is serving as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence since December 2022. He served as Taoiseach from 2020 to 2022 and has been Leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He has been a TD for Cork South-Central since 1989. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020 and held various Cabinet offices under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farmleigh</span> State guest house and estate in Dublin, Ireland

Farmleigh is the official Irish state guest house. It was formerly one of the Dublin residences of the Guinness family. It is situated on an elevated position above the River Liffey to the northwest of the Phoenix Park, in Castleknock. The estate of 78 acres (32 ha) consists of extensive private gardens with stands of mature cypress, pine and oak trees, a boating pond, walled garden, sunken garden, out offices and a herd of rare native Kerry cattle. It was purchased by the Government of Ireland from Edward Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh in 1999 for €29.2 million. A state body—the Office of Public Works (OPW)—spent in the region of €23 million restoring the house, gardens and curvilinear glasshouses, bringing the total cost to the state to €52.2 million. Farmleigh was opened to the public in July 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Coughlan (politician)</span> Irish former politician (born 1965)

Mary Coughlan is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 2008 to 2011, Deputy leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011, Minister for Health and Children from January 2011 to March 2011, Minister for Education and Skills from 2010 to 2011, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2008 to 2010, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food from 2004 to 2008, Minister for Social and Family Affairs from 2002 to 2004 and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and the Islands from 2001 to 2002. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Donegal South-West constituency from 1987 to 2011.

Events from the year 2004 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David McWilliams (economist)</span> Journalist, broadcaster and economist from Dublin

David McWilliams is an Irish economist, writer, and journalist. Since 1999, he has been a broadcaster, writer, economic commentator and documentary-maker. He has written five books, The Pope's Children , The Generation Game, Follow the Money, The Good Room and Renaissance Nation, and written regular columns for the Irish Times and Irish Independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McGuinness (politician)</span> Irish politician (born 1955)

John James McGuinness is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since the 1997 general election. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach in April 2016. He served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee from 2011 to 2016 and as a Minister of State from 2007 to 2009.

The 30th Dáil was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007 and met on 14 June 2007. The members of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland, are known as TDs. It sat with the 23rd Seanad as the two Houses of the Oireachtas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Irish general election</span> Election to the 31st Dáil

The 2011 Irish general election took place on Friday 25 February to elect 166 Teachtaí Dála across 43 constituencies to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of Ireland's parliament, the Oireachtas. The Dáil was dissolved and the general election called by President Mary McAleese on 1 February, at the request of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. The 31st Dáil met on 9 March 2011 to nominate a Taoiseach and approve the new ministers of the 29th government of Ireland, a Fine Gael and Labour Party coalition government with a majority of 58.

Events from the year 2008 in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil was founded on 23 March 1926 when a group of Dáil deputies led by Éamon de Valera split from the original Sinn Féin. This happened because de Valera's motion calling for elected members be allowed to take their seats in the Dáil, if and when the controversial Oath of Allegiance was removed, failed to pass at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. The new party adopted its name on 2 April of the same year. From the formation of the first Fianna Fáil government on 9 March 1932 until the 2011 general election, the party was in power for 61 of 79 years. Its longest continuous period in office was 15 years and 11 months. Its single longest period out of office, in that time, has been four years and four months. All eight of its party's leaders have served as Taoiseach. It was the largest party in Dáil Éireann at every general election from the 1932 general election until the 2011 general election, when it suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state.

The FÁS expenses scandal happened in Ireland in November/December 2008. Significant public and political outcry was roused, and at least one senior figure of a government organisation resigned. The scandal first emerged in June 2008 when Dáil Éireann was told one morning by Leader of the Opposition Enda Kenny that gardaí were investigating the alleged misappropriate use of funds by a senior executive within FÁS. The director general of the FÁS, the training and employment agency, Roddy Molloy resigned late on 25 November after revelations that himself and fellow FÁS executives spent hundreds of thousands of euro belonging to the company on lavish holidays to the United States, which included first-class travel and expensive rounds of golf, including €643,000 over a period of four years on transatlantic travel for the purpose of promoting the Science Challenge programme and almost €48,000 in air fares for journeys undertaken by Molloy, sometimes accompanied by his wife. Just prior to this, Taoiseach Brian Cowen had publicly defended Molloy before his resignation, amidst increasing public outcry and calls for him to resign by TDs including the Fine Gael spokesperson for enterprise Leo Varadkar. The turning point proved to be an interview Molloy gave to the RTÉ Radio 1 show Today with Pat Kenny in which he grossly underestimated the tide of public opinion in his defence of his company's expenses. On 24 November, Molloy explained to Pat Kenny: "We broke no rules or regulations. At the time we were doing it, it was standard practice." The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee investigated the affair and issued a report on 19 February 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland–Mexico relations</span> Bilateral relations

The nations of Ireland and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1974. The relationship has been often associated with the Irish migration to Mexico. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland</span> To permit the state to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon

The Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act 2009 is an amendment of the Constitution of Ireland which permitted the state to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon of the European Union. It was approved by referendum on 2 October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of Fianna Fáil</span> Irish political party leadership

The leader of Fianna Fáil is the most senior politician within the Fianna Fáil political party in Ireland. Since 26 January 2011, the office has been held by Micheál Martin, following the resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of the party four days earlier. Martin is also the longest-serving leader, serving for a total of 13 years as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State visit by Elizabeth II to the Republic of Ireland</span> 2011 visit by the British monarch

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her husband Prince Philip made a state visit to Ireland from 17 to 20 May 2011, at the invitation of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. It was the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the area that is now the Republic of Ireland since the 1911 tour by Elizabeth's grandfather King George V, when the entire island of Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Gathering Ireland 2013, referred to as The Gathering was a tourism-led initiative in Ireland. It aimed to mobilise the Irish diaspora to return to Ireland during 2013 to be part of specially organised local gatherings and events during the year. It was a government supported initiative driven primarily by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, and Tourism Ireland. The concept relied on grassroots initiatives of private individuals, and non-governmental organisations. The Gathering was not a single event but provided an umbrella framework for varying activities throughout 2013, from family reunions and clan gatherings to sports fixtures. While the initiative was primarily directed at the Irish diaspora, and those with other links to the country, the organisers hoped the experience for the general tourist would also be enhanced.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Global Irish Economic Summit planned for Farmleigh". The Belfast Telegraph . 1 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  2. ↑ "Forum Coverage". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Sam Smyth (2 September 2009). "Martin sparks turf war with Coughlan over economy forum". Irish Independent . Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Brian O'Mahony (2 September 2009). "180 leading figures to attend think-in". Irish Examiner . Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Laura Slattery (1 September 2009). "Diaspora gathering details unveiled". The Irish Times . Retrieved 18 September 2009. The Taoiseach will be the only keynote speaker at the event, which opens on Friday the 18th with his address on the so-called smart economy. This will be followed by a panel discussion on "the global economy: positioning Ireland for the upturn". Other panel discussions include "Ireland - the innovation island"; "promoting brand Ireland through our global cultural profile"; "Ireland's image abroad: what is it now, how can it be improved and what role can new media play"; and "Ireland and its Diaspora: harnessing unique resource". The programme also includes a reception hosted by President McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin, a dinner at Dublin Castle hosted by the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, and attendance at the All-Ireland football final at Croke Park. "That was a piece of opportunistic planning by yours truly in anticipation that Cork would reach the final", Mr Martin said.
  6. ↑ "Economic summit for Ireland details to be released". Irish Examiner . 1 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Farmleigh event to seek diaspora ideas". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 John Mulligan (26 August 2009). "Government rallies Irish diaspora to help deliver the 'smart economy'". Irish Independent . Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 JOE BRENNAN and JOHN MULLIGAN (19 September 2009). "Experts agree banks must be stabilised before the recovery". Irish Independent . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  10. ↑ "Emigrants returning for think-tank". Press Association. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.[ dead link ]
  11. 1 2 3 "Forum: 'good ideas on the table'". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  12. ↑ Ronan McGreevey (19 September 2009). "Ali thanks people of Ennis for warm reception". The Irish Times . Retrieved 19 September 2009. The letter is written by Ali's friend John Ramsey, who is involved with the Alltech Muhammad Ali Centre Global Education and Charitable Fund based in Louisville, Kentucky. It was also sent to Alltech's founder and president Dr Pearse Lyons who organised Ali's visit to Ireland, and was one of the guests yesterday at the economic forum of the global Irish in Farmleigh House. Irish-owned Alltech is based in Ali's home state of Kentucky.
  13. 1 2 Steven Carroll (19 September 2009). "President praises delegates' efforts". The Irish Times . Retrieved 19 September 2009. Ms McAleese said the forum highlighted that Ireland was "considerably more than an island on the edge of Europe, but the centre of a vast networked community". [...] Speaking at a reception in Áras an Uachtaráin for delegates, Mrs McAleese said, regardless of their ties to the country, the participants' "interest in and commitment to" Ireland was valued.
  14. 1 2 3 Senan Molony (18 September 2009). "Coughlan's no Einstein after gaffe at 'smart economy' launch". Irish Independent . Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  15. ↑ Kevin Doyle, POLITICAL REPORTER (18 September 2009). "Coughlan reveals she's no Einstein". Evening Herald . Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "After mixing up Darwin and Einstein, how long can we carry on with our laughing stock Tanaiste?". Evening Herald . 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  17. ↑ Gergely, Andras (18 September 2009). "O'Brien sees London's Independent closed by Dec". Reuters . Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  18. ↑ Victoria Thomson (19 September 2009). "O'Brien claims 'irrelevant' Independent to fold by Christmas". The Scotsman . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Brian O’Mahony and Stephen Rogers (19 September 2009). "Schools bigger problem than banking'". Irish Examiner . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  20. ↑ Colette Fitzpatrick (25 September 2009). "When Geldof told Mary that she had lovely legs, she should have used them to run a mile". Evening Herald . Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  21. 1 2 3 "Cullen criticises cuts proposals". The Irish Times . 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009. Businessman Denis O'Brien told the forum today Ireland's literary and musical heritage can be used to open business doors around the world and help seal deals in the face of economic crisis. "The fact that we have such a strong culture as a country really gives us one of the big advantages of any nation in the world," he said. "We are famous for our writers, our artists, our poets and we are not famous for much else," said the chairman of Digicel, adding that his cell phone group had got a licence to operate in Samoa because the country's prime minister had been educated by an Irish religious order.
  22. ↑ Carmel Crimmins (19 September 2009). "Singing & dancing seen helping Ireland out of crisis". Reuters . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  23. ↑ The IRISH TIMES (19 September 2009). "Martin hails ideas forum input". The Irish Times . Retrieved 19 September 2009. "Your work this week will be taken forward and action will be taken," Mr Martin told participants at a press conference this evening. "We are going through a crisis at the moment which does require ... a very significant (cut to) budget. They are the overarching priorities that the Government has at the moment and we have to try and work within that." Mr Martin said the Government would look at creating an online portal for a virtual community of people of Irish descent to stay in touch, as well as more educational exchanges and diaspora-linked tourism. He also said he wanted to boost Ireland's presence around the world to harness the Irish diaspora in countries not traditionally focused on before, such as Russia.
  24. ↑ Martin Murphy (17 September 2009). "Shifting the focus to an enterprise culture". The Irish Times . Retrieved 19 September 2009. This weekend's Global Economic Forum conference at Farmleigh House in Dublin is a great opportunity for Ireland – and I stress the word "opportunity, because I view the forum as an opportunity for business and political leaders to come together to truly begin positioning this small, export-driven country for real and sustained economic renewal and growth.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.