Organised by the Institute for Social Sciences in the 21st Century at UCC, the discussion will explore how greater open decision-making could transform government, the need for stronger and independently-financed local government, what progress the current government has made on its reform agenda and the need for a changed direction in economic, budgetary and social policy.
Organised by UCC's Institute for Social Sciences in the 21st Century, the discussion will be led by Dr Nat O’Connor of TASC, whose objectives are to address Ireland’s high level of economic inequality and to ensure that public policy has equality at its core.
Ireland will soon be entering a period of centenaries. One hundred years since the 1913 lockout of workers. One hundred years since the violence of 1916. One hundred years since modern democracy began in Ireland, with near-universal voting rights in the 1918 election. Yet Ireland today is going through a period of severe crisis, beyond the pressure on public finances and a high level of unemployment. What lies beneath is a deeper malaise in Irish society, which has not been addressed. The lack of a hopeful vision for Ireland among much of the populace is becoming an unfortunate reality.
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, has discussed renewing the Republic and various authors have suggested a ‘Second Republic’ is needed. But what are the fundamental values and hopes that people in this country share with one another? Can we agree on a set of basic principles that will guide our recovery and frame the construction of a more equitable society? In short, can we imagine Ireland as a flourishing society, and what do we need to do to bring that vision to fruition amidst the challenges of the 21st Century?
The discussion will also explore how greater open decision-making could transform government; the need for stronger and independently-financed local government; what progress the current government has made on its reform agenda; the need for a changed direction in economic, budgetary and social policy.
The discussion, which will be chaired by Michael Ward (Centre for Cooperative Studies at UCC), will take place in the Geography Lecture Theatre, Geography Building, UCC on 14 November at 4pm. Other panellists include Noreen Byrne (Centre for Cooperative Studies) and Professor Fred Powell (School of Applied Social Studies).
Further information is available at: http://tinyurl.com/bllhufq