Fergus Finlay broadcasts regularly on radio and television and writes a weekly newspaper column in the Irish Examiner.  He is the bestselling author of three books, including his political memoir, Snakes and Ladders.  An economics graduate of UCC, he worked for many years at the forefront of Irish industrial relations before moving into politics where he was Chief of Staff and senior adviser to the Irish Labour Party’s leaders Dick Spring and Pat Rabbitte.  Mr Finlay was critically involved in the election of President Mary Robinson in 1990 and was later centrally involved in the negotiations which led to the Downing Street Declaration and the Joint Framework Documents, being a member of the Government delegation to the Stormont talks in 1995-96.  In that capacity he attended meetings with Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, and Presidents Bush and Clinton.  He also led the Government team which successfully passed the dropping of the constitutional ban on divorce in 1996.

Mr Finlay has throughout his life been a voice for marginalised groups and is a passionate commentator on social inequity in Ireland.  Until recently, he served as Chairperson of the Special Olympics and since 2005 is CEO of Barnardos, Ireland's largest children's charity. 

Everyone is welcome to attend.

1445MMcS

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