IIEA Talks

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Europe’s Place in the World Oct 24, 2022

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In his address to the IIEA, Secretary Sannino, discusses the EU's place in a changing global order, the tools that the EU has at its disposal to meet the challenges it faces, and the role of the EEAS in meeting these challenges. About the Speaker: Stefano Sannino has served as the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union since 1 January 2021 and was the EEAS Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues at the EEAS from April 2020 to December 2020. He previously served as the Ambassador of Italy to Spain and Andorra (2016-2020), and as Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU in (2013-2016).

US-UK and EU-UK Relations in a Changing United Kingdom Oct 21, 2022

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In his address to the IIEA, United States Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, who serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, is chairman of the Congressional European Union Caucus, and is a member of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, discusses what a new prime minister and monarch in the United Kingdom is likely to mean for the future of US-UK and EU-UK relations. Congressman Boyle also assesses the possible impact of the US midterm elections on US relations with the EU and the UK. About the Speaker: Congressman Brendan Boyle was born and raised in the Olney neighborhood of Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District. A first generation American, Congressman Boyle’s father emigrated from Ireland in search of a better life. The first in his family to attend college, he attended the University of Notre Dame on a scholarship and later graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2008, Boyle became the first Democrat to represent Pennsylvania’s 170th state legislative district. In 2014, he was sent to Washington to represent his hometown in Congress. Now in his fourth term, Congressman Boyle proudly represents the 2nd Congressional district.

Combatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence Oct 21, 2022

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In her address to the IIEA, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee outlines her work on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and the putting in place of integrated prevention measures. As a key priority for the EU and the Council of Europe, the Minister discusses DSGBV in the context of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of Europe and examine the role played by Ireland in tackling this issue at a multilateral level. About the Speaker: Helen McEntee TD is the Minister for Justice. She was appointed to this role in June 2020. Helen was elected to Dáil Éireann in a By-Election in March 2013, and re-elected in the February 2016 general election. Deputy McEntee was appointed by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD to be Minister for Mental Health and Older People at the Department of Health in May 2016 as part of the new Partnership Government. In June 2017, as part of a government reshuffle by newly appointed Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, Minister McEntee was promoted to the position of Minister of State for EU Affairs.

Middle East Axes and Poles: The Geopolitics of MENA in 2022 and Beyond Oct 21, 2022

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The greater Middle East region has been going through various trials and tribulations over the last decade, with different axes of power forming within. Those poles of influence are homegrown – but they also connect to external ones, far beyond the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which brings about an interesting set of geopolitical realities for the region. Against the backdrop of increasing pressures on the international system, how does the geopolitical order look from within MENA? What considerations are on the minds of power brokers in the region? What might the future look like? In his intervention, Dr Hisham Hellyer addresses these questions. About the Speaker: Dr Hisham (H.A.) Hellyer FRSA is a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) and a fellow of the Centre for Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Cambridge. Concurrently, he is a Senior Associate Fellow in International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Dr Hellyer is regularly included in the scholarly section of the annual global list of ‘The 500 Most Influential Muslims’ in the world. Following the 2005 London bombings, Dr Hellyer was appointed as Deputy Convenor of the UK Government’s Taskforce as an independent academic expert, and served as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s first Economic and Social Research Council Fellow, as a non-partisan independent scholar. In 2020, Dr Hellyer was elected as Fellow (FRSA) of the Royal Society of Arts in London due to his contributions to his subject areas, particularly in the international relations of the West and the Middle East, security studies, and belief.

Bruce Stokes 'Transatlantic trends in a time of war' 13th of October 2022 Oct 21, 2022

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In the seventh episode of IIEA Insights, IIEA Director General David O’Sullivan is joined by Bruce Stokes, Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, to discuss trends in transatlantic relations in a time of war. They discuss public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic, the actors most affected by war in Ukraine, the potential for future conflicts such as in Taiwan, and the likelihood of Europe to intervene in these conflicts

Combatting Air Pollution: A Keynote address by Professor Joseph G. Allen Oct 06, 2022

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In this keynote address, Professor Joseph G. Allen highlights strategies to combat air pollution in indoor environments. The debilitating health effects of poor air quality and substandard housing conditions is often overlooked, but indoor air pollution leads to millions of premature deaths each year. In his address to the IIEA, Professor Allen outlines key findings from his landmark book, Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, which was recognised as ‘Best Book of the Year’ in Fortune magazine and the New York Times, for two consecutive years. About the Speaker: Joseph G. Allen is Director of the Healthy Buildings program and an Associate Professor at Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Before joining the faculty at Harvard, he spent several years in the private sector leading teams of scientists and engineers to investigate and resolve hundreds of indoor environmental quality issues, including “sick buildings,” cancer clusters, and biological/chemical hazards. His academic research focuses on the critical role that the indoor built environment plays in our overall health. One of the world’s leading experts on healthy buildings, Professor Allen is a regular keynote speaker and advises leading global companies. He is the co-author of Healthy Buildings. This event is part of the Environmental Resilience series, which is supported by the EPA.

Sabine Weyand 'Can Europe be both open and strategically autonomous?' 29th of September 2022 Oct 06, 2022

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In the sixth episode of IIEA Insights, IIEA Chief Economist Dan O’Brien speaks with EU Director General for Trade, Sabine Weyand, about the central challenge for EU trade policy of balancing openness with greater calls for European strategic autonomy, as well as a range of other issues on her agenda, from existing and future bilateral trade deals to the functioning of the multilateral trading system.

Cyber Security and EU Strategic Autonomy: Coherence and Capability Challenges Oct 03, 2022

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In his address to the IIEA, Professor Martin draws upon his 2022 IIEA paper and argue that autonomy in cyber security is essential if Europe wishes to forge a wider digital strategic autonomy. He discusses how the fragmented state of EU cybersecurity prevents a coherent European cyber security strategy and argue that Europe’s lack of indigenous technological capabilities present it with a choice between deepening ties with the US or making major commitments to a European tech-industrial policy. This event is part of a transnational project called Europe’s Digital Future, which is coordinated by the IIEA, and which is supported by Google. The project aims to explore the concept of digital sovereignty and what future it might herald for the EU and for small, open economies. About the Speaker: Ciaran Martin is a Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the Blavatnik School of Government. Prior to joining the School, Ciaran was the founding Chief Executive of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ. Prof. Martin led a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to cyber security. He successfully advocated for a wholesale change of approach towards a more interventionist posture and this was adopted by the Government in the 2015 National Security Strategy, leading to the creation of the NCSC in 2016 under his leadership. In his 23-year career in the UK civil service, Prof. Martin held senior roles within the Cabinet Office, including Constitution Director (2011-2014) and director of Security and Intelligence at the Cabinet Office (2008-2011).

Future Proofing the Climate-Health Nexus Oct 03, 2022

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In her address to the IIEA, Dr Maria Neira highlights how the international community can foster intersectoral cooperation on air pollution to put health at the core of climate action and sustainable development. The benefits of cleaner air extend beyond personal health, to collective public, environmental and economic health. The drive for clean air can facilitate a faster reduction of climate-warming emissions, a shift to cheaper and more reliable energy sources, and improved economic security. Dr Neira discusses the benefits of putting health at the core of climate action and sustainable development to future proof the climate-health nexus. This event is part of the Development Matters lecture series, supported by Irish Aid. About the Speaker: Dr Maria Neira is the Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization, Geneva. Dr Neira is a medical doctor by training and specialised in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in Paris, France. Among many distinctions, she has been awarded the Médaille de l'Ordre national du Mérite by the Government of France and received an “Extraordinary Woman” award by HM Queen Letizia of Spain. In 2019, she was nominated among the top 100 policy influencers in health and climate change.

Europe in Changing Times Oct 03, 2022

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Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, climate change and a renewed call to defend our democracies, the EU must play a formative role in fostering international cooperation. In her address to the IIEA, EVP Vestager discusses these challenges and the tools at Europe’s disposal to counter them in a coordinated manner. About the Speaker: Margrethe Vestager is Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the digital age and Commissioner for Competition. She previously served as Commissioner for Competition (2014-19). She was Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior (2011-14) and Minister for Education (1998-2001) of Denmark. She was Political leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party (2007-14) and has worked for the Danish Ministry of Finance (1993-95). Ms. Vestager holds an MSc in Economics (University of Copenhagen).

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