Mairead McGuinness delivers Philip Monahan Memorial lecture at UCC

9 Apr 2024

• Commissioner McGuinness discussed the reality of working in European Union institutions.

European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness delivered the 2024 Monahan Lecture at University College Cork on Tuesday, 9 April.

Held annually, the prestigious public lecture celebrates the memory of Philip Monahan, Ireland’s first local authority manager who served as City Commissioner and then City Manager in Cork from 1924 – 1959. Lord Mayor of Cork Councillor Kieran McCarthy and UCC President Professor John O’Halloran will also address the event.

Ensuring financial stability in the EU

Mairead McGuinness is European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union. The Commissioner’s vision for the portfolio is focused on ensuring the financial sector’s strength and stability, so that it can deliver for people, society and the environment.

Before joining the Commission in 2020, Commissioner McGuinness was First Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2017. She served as an MEP from Ireland for 16 years and was a Vice-President of the Parliament since 2014. As Vice-President, she oversaw relations with national Parliaments, led the Parliament’s dialogue with religious and philosophical organisations, and had responsibility for the Parliament’s communication policy.

During her time in the Parliament, Commissioner McGuinness sat on a range of committees, covering agriculture, environment, public health, budgets, petitions and constitutional affairs. Her legislative work included leading for the EPP Group on the European Climate Law, the revision of medical devices legislation, and CAP reform post-2013. As an Irish MEP representing the border region, she was outspoken on Brexit and the consequences for the EU and Ireland.

In 2006-2007, Commissioner McGuinness chaired the Parliament’s investigation into the collapse of the Equitable Life assurance company which identified issues around weak financial regulation.

Prior to becoming an MEP, she was an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and commentator.

The reality of working in EU institutions

Dr Aodh Quinlivan, Senior Lecturer UCC Department of Government and Politics and organiser of the Monahan lectures, stated: ‘Máiréad McGuinness is a wonderful addition to the impressive list of speakers who have contributed to this lecture series. She discussed the reality of working in the European Union institutions and her lecture is timely with the next set of European Parliament elections on the horizon.”

The Philip Monahan Memorial lecture series was inaugurated in 1997 and featured distinguished speakers including John Hume, Robert Putnam, Mary McAleese, David Norris, John Bercow, Enda Kenny, Mark Mellett, Brigid Laffan, Colm O’Gorman, Fr. Peter McVerry and Charlie Bird.