NESC@50 Conference – Retrospective & Highlights

• 28 November 2023
• Topics: NESC@50
• Types: Events

As part of the Council’s NESC@50 programme of research and events, a major policy conference was held on Thursday, 23rd November 2023 in Dublin Castle. The conference brought together a capacity audience of 300 members of the national and international policy community to consider what ‘A Thriving Ireland’ means, and the actions required to ensure it. The event focused on NESC’s vision, its foundations and the actions needed to support and enable it. It also demonstrated the Council’s specific way of working – research, dialogue and advice – in action.

Click on the links below for a more in-depth view of the conference and related work:

• A transcript of the Taoiseach’s keynote address
• A transcript of Commissioner McGuinness’ speech
• Official press release
• Programme
• Speaker List
• Attendance List
• Is Ireland Thriving? Answers from International Assessments – A Secretariat Paper written to support the key themes of the conference.
• “50 Years a-Growing”, a piece reflecting on NESC’s early years by former Secretariat member Tom Ferris.

 

You can also use the slideshow below to scroll through a gallery of photographs from the day:

 

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  European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness is welcomed by Director of NESC Larry O'Connell.

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  L-R: Cathal FitzGerald, NESC Senior Analyst and Conference Lead; Liz Canavan, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Chair of NESC; Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner; and Larry O'Connell, Director of NESC

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  NESC Director Larry O'Connell introducing the conference.

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  John Callinan, Department of the Taoiseach and Chair of NESC, speaking as part of the conference's opening session.

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  European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness

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  The Session 1 panel on "A Thriving Ireland: Foundational Elements".

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  Session 1 Chair, author Mark Henry.

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  L-R: Ebun Joseph, Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies; Kevin O’Connor, University College Dublin; Dara Turnbull, Housing Europe; Emma Kinsella, Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science; Deirdre Heenan, Ulster University; John McHale, University of Galway; and Mark Henry

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  L-R: John Callinan; Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D.; Larry O'Connell; and Cathal FitzGerald

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  The Taoiseach delivering his keynote address to the conference.

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  The NESC Secretariat.

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  Our NESC History Wall, highlighting some of the key reports we have published over the last five decades.

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  "NESC in Today's Ireland" video contributor and Founder/CEO of Black Therapists Ireland, Ejiro Ogbevoen (right) with Session 1 panellist Ebun Joseph.

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  "NESC's Contribution Over 50 Years" video interviewees Peter Cassells (left), Former General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Dermot McCarthy (right), Former Secretary General to the Government and Secretary General to the Department of the Taoiseach.

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  Members of the NESC@50 Youth Advisory Group.

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  The panellists for Session 2 - "A Thriving Ireland: Resilient, Inclusive and Protective".

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  Session 2 Chair Sara Burke, Trinity College Dublin.

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  Anton Hemerijck, European University Institute, setting the scene.

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  L-R: Sue Pritchard, The Food Farming and Countryside Commission UK; Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children; and Rose Anne Kenny, Trinity College Dublin.

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  Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon.

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  Martin Collins, Pavee Point

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  L-R: Zoe Hughes, Care Alliance Ireland, and Sue Pritchard.

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  The Session 3 panel on "A Thriving Ireland: Forward and Outward Looking".

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  Session 3 Chair Matt Crowe, former EPA Director & currently Chair of the National Water Forum.

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  Philip McDonagh, Dublin City University.

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  L-R: Dennis C. Grube, Cambridge University; Niall Cussen, Planning Regulator; Toto Daly, Climate Activist; and Malachy Ó Néill, Ulster University.

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  L-R: Jane Suiter, Dublin City University; and Donncha Kavanagh, University College Dublin.

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  The fourth and final panel preparing to discuss "A Thriving Ireland: Reflections and Next Steps".

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  Session 4 Chair Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, University College Dublin.

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  L-R: Session 1 Rapporteur Paul Donnelly, Technological University Dublin; and Session 3 Rapporteur Martin Hawkes, Burren College of Art.

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  Session 2 Rapporteur Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

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  Liz Canavan, Department of the Taoiseach (centre).

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  L-R: Liz Canavan; and Noelle O Connell, European Movement Ireland.

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  A prerecorded presentation by the Youth Advisory Group plays during the closing session.

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  Larry O'Connell brings the conference to a close.

 

Video Gallery

 

 

 

 

The above video feature contributions from John-Mark McCafferty, CEO, Threshold (0:07); Gráinne Mullins, CEO and Founder, Grá Chocolates (2:47); Governor Joe Donohue, Shelton Abbey Open Centre (4:54); Ejiro Ogbevoen, Counselling Psychotherapist, Founder and CEO, Black Therapists Ireland (7:18); Cian FitzGerald, Researcher – Security and Defence/Foreign Policy, Institute of International and European Affairs (10:26); Stephanie Manahan, CEO, Pieta (12:13); and Jack O’Meara, CEO, Ochre Bio (15:20).