Dublin Forum

The Dublin Forum (Irish: Tionól Átha Cliath) was a political project based in Ireland's capital city, Dublin. It was founded by Kevin Byrne as an initiative of the Fianna Fáil political party, to provide a new structure for the involvement of those who are interested in politics and want a forum to express their ideas and concerns and participate in debate and policy development.

Launch

The Dublin Forum was launched by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2000, and hosted a schedule of monthly public debates.

Meetings

Issues addressed covered the major social, economic, historical and political issues of the day. Debates featured a wide array of representatives, commentators, experts, politicians, from both North and South, and ministers from most government departments.

Debates

2003

• Motor Insurance in Ireland
• Prospects for the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process - with the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, the Palestinian Delegate General to Ireland and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
• The Convention on the Future of Europe - featuring Minister for Europe, Dick Roche TD and former Taoiseach, John Bruton TD
• Too Many Women In Politics? - with Minister Mary Coughlan TD
• Alcohol in Irish Society - including speeches from Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Health and the CEO of Vintners Federation of Ireland
• Deregulation in the Irish Economy - featuring Séamus Brennan TD, Minister for Transport and Brendan Ogle, Branch Secretary, ILDA

2002

• What Next for Sellafield? - featuring John Clarke, Head of Safety, BNFL Sellafield
• 80 Years of the Irish State - with Minister Michael McDowell and Senator Martin Mansergh
• Electoral Reform - with Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for the Environment and Local Government and Prof Richard Sinnott, UCD

2001

• The New World Order - featuring Brian Cowen TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr Tom Whalen, Visiting Professor of Government, UCC
• Developing the Economy Over the Last 30 Years
• The Growing Pains of a New Society
• Traveller & Settled, Rights & Responsibilities
• 75 Years of Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party - with Brian Lenihan TD, Minister Mary O'Rourke TD, Éamon Ó Cuív TD and Martin Mansergh, Special Advisor to the Taoiseach
• The All-Ireland Dimension - with Brian Cowen, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the CEO of Inter Trade Ireland and Denis Haughey, SDLP and Dermot Nesbitt, UUP, Ministers in the Northern Executive
• Discussion on Local Development & the National Drugs Strategy
• America's Influence on Ireland
• Caring For Our Future - featuring Minister for Children, Mary Hanafin TD
• Who Watches The Watchers? - with Minister Dermot Ahern TD and Emily O'Reilly, Sunday Business Post

2000

• Post Budget Discussion - with Martin Cullen TD, Minister of State for Finance
• Are Political Dynasties Compatible with Democracy? - with Minister Noel Dempsey TD and Beverley Flynn TD
• Integration into Ireland - featururing the Minister for Justice
• The Future of the Irish Economy & Social Partnership
• The Loss of Community in Ireland
• Republicanism and Connolly's Vision in the Year 2000 - featuring Brian Cowen TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Alex Attwood MLA, SDLP
• Launch of the Fianna Fáil Dublin Forum - by then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD

Other

• International Terror and Ireland
• Republicanism in Capitalist Ireland?
• Are Irish Consumers Being Short-Changed?

References

• "Government launch project to attract interest in political ideas". Irish Examiner. 2000-09-27.
• "Sellafield must run for 50 years more, says BNFL". Irish Examiner. 2002-12-11. — a report on the 2002 debate at the Dublin Forum