IIEA Talks

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Post-elections Turkey: What are the implications for Europe? Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

In his remarks, Mehmet Öğütçü reflects upon Turkey’s elections on 14 and 28 May 2023 and the implications which Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s winning yet another mandate to run the country for the next five years may have for Europe. He examines whether there is any prospect of resetting EU-Turkey relations and what could be done to improve the dialogue between Brussels and Ankara on key issues such as energy, climate change, migration and tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Mr Öğütçü discusses whether Turkey’s new government will be able to change course from its current approach to relations with Moscow, as well as Turkey’s role in NATO enlargement. About the Speaker: Mehmet Öğütçü is the Chair of the London Energy Club. He is a former advisor to the Prime Minister, and diplomat in China, Belgium, France and the UK. Previously, Öğütçü served as a principal administrator for Asia-Pacific and Latin America at International Energy Agency and head of investment outreach for the OECD. He was director for BG Group (now part of Shell) and Chair of the advisory board of Invensys plc and the Middle East Institute, Washington DC. He was also a board member of Genel Energy plc, Şişecam, Yasar Holding. He is now Chair of the London Energy Club, the Bosphorus Energy Club and Global Resources Partners, UK.

Ireland’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Prof. Gerard Quinn, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, discusses Ireland’s obligations, strengths, and shortcomings, under international human rights treaties, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which was adopted by the United Nations in 2006. The UNCRPD is the first international, legally binding instrument setting minimum standards for the rights of people with disabilities. The Convention followed decades of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It is a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension which adopts a broad categorisation of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Irish Government signed the Convention in 2007 and in March 2018 the Convention was ratified. About the Speaker: Professor Gerard Quinn was appointed the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities by the Human Rights Council in October 2020. A graduate of Harvard Law School, the King's Inns and the National University of Ireland, Professor Quinn formerly held a chair at the National University of Ireland where he founded and directed the Centre on Disability Law & Policy. In Ireland, he also served as a member of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities (1992-1996) which was composed of a majority of persons with disabilities. He has received three awards for his work on international disability Law - from Rehabilitation International (RI), the US International Council on Disability (USICD), and the European Association of Service Providers (EASPD).

Combatting Human Trafficking: Interview with UN Special Rapporteur, Siobhán Mullally Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

In this interview, IIEA Researcher, Leanne Digney, talks to the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Ms Siobhán Mullally, about the mandate of her office and the major challenges in the fight against human trafficking today. This interview is part of the Global Europe UN podcast series which is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs

Can Democracy Prevail? How to Reinvigorate Democracy in an Age of Rising Authoritarianism Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

In his address to the IIEA, Charles Dunst discusses his new book, Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of the Strongman. Mr Dunst explores the dangers of rising authoritarianism and outlines the steps that democracies can take to rebuild trust, restore accountability, improve governance, and build a better future for generations to come. He also outlines how democracies can engage with autocratic partners elsewhere in the world. About the Speaker: Charles Dunst is Deputy Director of Research & Analytics at The Asia Group and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Telegraph, and Foreign Policy, among other outlets. An erstwhile foreign correspondent, Charles Dunst has reported from Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, and Romania.

Migration and Asylum in the EU Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Asylum and Migration policy has been at the forefront of the EU agenda as negotiations have commenced on some key aspects of the new Asylum and Migration Pact. Since the proposal was tabled, in September 2020, considerable progress has been made, although discussions at the recent European Council Meeting were inconclusive. The desire for a rational fact-based approach to the topic can only be achieved by building on a spirit of trust and cooperation between Member States. It has reinforced the belief that the scale and scope of migration management in the EU is best addressed collectively, rather than at Member State by Member State level. In her address to the IIEA as part of the Global Europe project, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson outlines the progress made on migration policy, the crises and challenges to overcome, the outreach to third country partners, and on the type of debate needed to continue to make progress if the Pact is to be agreed before the European Elections in June 2024. About the Speaker: Ylva Johansson was appointed European Commissioner for Home Affairs in December 2019. She previously served as Minister for Employment in the Swedish Government from 2014 to 2019, Minister for Welfare and Elderly Healthcare from 2004 to 2006 and Minister for Schools from 1994 to 1998. Ms. Johansson was educated at Lund University and the Stockholm Institute of Education.

Digital Skills in Europe Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

In her address, Anne Bajart discusses the European Commission’s activities and initiatives to promote digital skills. She focuses the Commission’s plans to promote skills for key areas such as AI (artificial intelligence), data, cybersecurity, semi-conductors and AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) technologies. Ms Bajart also discusses the role of the European Jobs and Skills Coalition, and the European Digital Jobs and Skills Platform, in promoting skills and the importance of grassroots initiatives such as EU Code Week. About the Speaker: Anne Bajart is Deputy Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education at DG CONNECT. She previously was Head of Sector for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in DG CONNECT. She has a PhD in Electrical engineering and has worked as a researcher, lecturer and project manager.

Lord Paul Bew, Ben Lowry 'Unionists on Unionism' Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

Lord Paul Bew, Member of the House of Lords; Ben Lowry, Editor-in-chief of the Belfast Newsletter, in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist.

Is Ireland Neutral? – YPN with Conor Gallagher Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Military neutrality has long held an important place in the Irish national psyche with polls consistently showing strong support for the concept. This support has remained solid even in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, an invasion which caused some other neutral EU countries to seriously evaluate their security stances. In his remarks, Conor Gallagher shares his view that today, the Irish version of neutrality seems uniquely narrow and appears, in the eyes of the Government at least, to comprise of simply staying out of NATO or an EU common defence pact. However, Mr Gallagher believes that many Irish people view neutrality as encompassing something complex and ambitious, but there is little agreement on what that is. About the Speaker: Conor Gallagher is the Crime and Security Correspondent for The Irish Times where he reports on issues concerning defence and state security, including developments in the Defence Forces and the rise of hybrid threats. He joined the newspaper in 2017. He recently published Is Ireland Neutral?, a book examining the evolving definitions of Irish neutrality in the decades since independence and its future in an increasingly uncertain world. He is a graduate of the DCU journalism program and has a Master’s Degree in Political Communications.

Getting Past Fire: Moving Fast to a Post-Combustion Planet Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Around the world, governments, communities and individuals are struggling to come to terms with one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change. In the second installment of the 2023 REthink Energy lecture series, which is co-organised by the IIEA and ESB, renowned environmentalist and prolific author, Bill McKibben, shares his insights into how the negative impacts of anthropocentric climate change can be mitigated. In particular, he speaks about the opportunities and obstacles presented by what he refers to as the “next great human adventure”: ending large-scale combustion on our planet. About the Speaker: Bill McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, and a founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 to work on climate and racial justice. He founded the first global grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, and serves as the Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. In 2014 he was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize, sometimes called the ‘alternative Nobel,’ in the Swedish Parliament. He's also won the Gandhi Peace Award, and honorary degrees from 19 colleges and universities. He has written over a dozen books about the environment, including his first, The End of Nature, published in 1989, and his latest book is The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at his Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened.

Protectors of the Planet: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples Jul 07, 2023

Show notes

For centuries, indigenous peoples around the world have been the guardians of the world’s bio and cultural diversity with their wisdom and unique knowledge. Today, they care for more than 20% of the planet’s land and 80% of its biodiversity. In her address to the IIEA, United Nations SDG Advocate and Environment and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Activist, Hindou Ibrahim, will discuss the indispensable role that indigenous communities play in protecting the environment and fostering a diverse range of ecosystems. She addresses the enormous challenges posed by climate change and by drawing on her experience as an SDG Advocate and her extensive knowledge of indigenous peoples’ practices she shares her valuable insights into how a just transition can be achieved; one in which everyone’s voice matters and to ensure no one is left behind. About the Speaker: Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is a Chadian environmentalist and geographer, and an expert in Indigenous Peoples’ adaption to climate change. As an indigenous woman from the Mbororo pastoralist people in Chad, Ms Ibrahim founded the Association of Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) and has worked on a 2D and 3D participatory mapping initiative in Chad’s Sahel region. In 2019, Ms Ibrahim became one of the 17 people to be appointed as an advocate of Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations Secretary General. She is the Coordinator of the AFPAT and has served as the co-director of the pavilion of the World Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative and Pavilion at COP21, COP22, COP23 and COP27, and now co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change.

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