Conference on Political Reform Monday June 22, TCD

There is a conference on political reform in Ireland tomorrow (Monday June 22nd) in the arts block in TCD. Sorry for the late link, I thought this was widely publicised but it seems a few of the politicos on Twitter have only heard about it today.

Details are available here and here.

Entry is free but you must pre-register at politicalreformireland [at] gmail [dot] com. It has been organised by Elaine Byrne of The Irish Times, as far as I know. The line-up is below the fold.

I’m told there’ll be a live video stream – I may post a few summaries here over the course of the day if the organisers can hook me up with some wifi.

9:00 – 9:30 Opening remarks Prof. Neil Collins (UCC) President of the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI)

It’s not just the economy stupid – the role of political science in the modern policy environment

9:30 – 11:15 Session 1: Governance and accountability

Chair: Dr. Elaine Byrne (Irish Times)

Presentation 1:

Prof. John Coakley (UCD) – Political culture in Ireland – where we can go from here

Discussant:  Peter Murtagh, Irish Times

Presentation 2:

Prof. Gary Murphy (DCU) – Interest groups, lobbying and the policy-making process: how best to promote transparency

Discussant: Karen Coleman, Newstalk

Presentation 3:

Dr. Eoin O’Malley (DCU) The governmental system: fit for purpose?

Discussant:  Mark Brennock, Director of Public Affairs at Murray Consultants

Open Discussion

11:30 – 1:00 Session 2: Elections and Electoral Systems

Chair: Matthew Wall (TCD PhD Scholar)

Presentation 1:

Prof. Michael Marsh (TCD) – Do Elections do what we want them to do?

Discussant: Fionnan Sheehan, Political Editor Irish Independent

Presentation 2:

Prof. Richard Sinnott (UCD) PRSTV – alternatives and impacts

Discussant: Dr. Garrett FitzGerald, Former Taoiseach

Open Discussion

1:00 – 2:00 Lunch

2:00 – 3:30 Session 3: Parliament and Local Government

Chair: Jane Suiter (TCD)

Presentation 1:

Dr. Liam Weeks/Dr. Aodh Quinlivan (UCC) Local Government  – options for reform

Presentation 2:

Prof. Michael Gallagher (TCD) The Role of TDs in the political system

Presentation 3:

Dr. Muiris MacCarthaigh (Geary Institute, UCD and IPA) Oireachtas Reform

Discussants: Noel Whelan, Irish Times coloumnist.

Sean Ardagh TD, Chair of The Joint Committee on the Constitution

Open Discussion

3.30 – : Coffee

4.00 – 5:30: Round Table Discussion: what next? options for reform

Introduction Dr. Maura Adshead (UL)

Chair: Aine Lawlor, Morning Ireland RTE Radio One

5:30 onwards: Book Launch by Joan Burton TD, Labour spokesperson on Finance, in IIIS 6th Floor Arts Block with Drinks Reception

‘Politics in Ireland : Convergence and Divergence in a Two-Polity Island’
by Maura Adshead and Jonathan Tonge (Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan)

For further information on the contributions by the presenters,
the forth edition of the Politics in the Republic of Ireland will be published in 20/8/2009

To register your interest in attending the conference you can email us at:

politicalreformireland@gmail.com