British Irish Parliamentary Assembly to consider 'Future of Work'

Taoiseach and Ryanair CEO to address plenary

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meets in the historic surrounding of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham on Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April to consider how workplaces will evolve and develop into the future.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, the IDA’s Frank Ryan and Ann Riordan of Science Foundation Ireland are among the speakers to address the Assembly on the need for dynamic, mobile and adaptable workforces in an ever more globalised and interconnected world. Over the course of one and a half days, the Assembly will consider where current and future opportunities for growth and employment lie and what common strategies might be forged in equipping citizens with the necessary skill set required by the cutting edge enterprises of today and tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin TD will inform a session on the reform underway in the public sector, along with leading academics Dr Eoin O’Malley of Dublin City University and Dr Richard Boyle of the Institute of Public Administration. Former BIPA Member and now Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes TD will also address the plenary.

This 48th BIPA plenary session, which will be streamed live on www.britishirish.org,  will see the publication of a report from the Assembly’s Committee on sovereignty, which has been inquiring into the implementation of the Good Friday/Belfast and St Andrew’s Agreements.

Irish Co-Chair Joe McHugh TD said: “The British Irish Parliamentary Assembly has a strong track record in fostering greater understanding of issues relevant to the lives of citizens we serve on both sides of the Irish Sea. As our economies emerge from the financial crisis of recent years, it is timely that we examine how new technologies are supporting new enterprises and changing the nature of how we work. The Assembly will gain from the perspective of the Taoiseach and other key voices from the IDA and Science Foundation Ireland on how Ireland is rising to these new challenges.” 

“The increased mobility for workers will be a particular talking point. In this context, the Assembly will value the unique insights of Michael O’Leary, whose company Ryanair is a key player in facilitating the mobility of European workers.”

Laurence Robertson MP, British Co-Chair of BIPA, added: “The British team are very much looking forward to the plenary meeting of BIPA in Dublin from Sunday.

“The Irish Co-Chair and his team have put forward a very interesting programme which focuses on work and enterprise, which is such an important theme. We are also pleased to note that, again, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will address the plenary and we look forward to holding discussions with him. It will also be useful for us to meet with the TDs and Senators from Ireland to discuss informally many issues relating to and connecting our two countries, not least the imminent visit of the President of Ireland to the UK, which we are very much looking forward to.”

The plenary session will be streamed live from the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on www.britishirish.org. News, speeches, photos, video clips and other material will appear online through the course of the two days.

Follow the BIPA twitter channel for updates.

Ends

Note to Editors:

About the Assembly:

The Assembly's mission is to promote co-operation between political representatives in Britain and Ireland for the benefit of the people they represent. BIPA’s membership includes representatives from the UK Parliament, the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly, the High Court of Tynwald (Isle of Man) and the States of Guernsey and Jersey. Read more.

View provisional programme below.

Media enquiries and accreditation requests to:

Dublin: Paul Hand (++353) 087 6949926
London: Jessica Bridges Palmer (++44) 07917 488 489

Draft Programme

Monday 31 March

“Before I Joined the Army” exhibition, courtesy of the Donegal County Museum, will be on display in The Drawing Room throughout Monday


9.15 Welcome by Chair of the Assembly

Adoption of proposed programme of business and brief introductory comments by the Co-Chairs

9.20 Remarks by Michael Wardick, Senior Heritage Guide, Royal Hospital Kilmainham

9.35 Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Brian Hayes TD

10.30 Reports of Committee A and C

11.00 Panel Discussion: Theme ‘Future of Work’
 Senior Vice President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce – Gerry Kindlon
 Science Foundation of Ireland – Ann Riordan, Chairperson
 IDA - Frank Ryan, Chair

13.00 Lunch

Group Photo


14.00 Visit to Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge

14.50 Depart Islandbridge to return to the RHK

15.15 Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive, Ryanair

16.15 An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD

17.00 Conclude


Tuesday 1 April

9.15 Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD
 

10.15 Reports of Committee B and D and Annual Report

Motion

"That the Assembly examines relationships in relation to the orderly wind up of Bank of Scotland Ireland".

Mattie McGrath, TD

Motion on Dementia Friendly Travel

Lord Dubs

11.15 (TBC) Panel Discussion – Reform of Public Sector
 Dr Eoin O’Malley, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
 Dr Richard Boyle, Head of Research, Publishing and Corporate Relations, Institute of Public Administration

12.30 Adjournment