Lecture on career opportunities in the EU institutions
A presentation on upcoming career opportunities in the EU institutions will take place on Monday 15 March at 6pm in the office of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
On 16 March 2010, details of graduate vacancies in the EU institutions will be published by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). These will include positions in the fields of European Public Administration, Law, Economics, Audit and Information and Communication Technology. In July, vacancy notices for translators and interpreters will be published.
Steffen Ludwig who works for the European Personnel Selection Office in Brussels will visit Dublin on Monday 15th March where he will give a presentation on the attractiveness of an EU career and on the upcoming selection and recruitment procedure. This may be of interest to students and recent graduates who are considering a career in the EU institutions.
Mr Ludwig's presentation will last 30 minutes and will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
In order to confirm your attendance, please email Beata Golenska to register - Beata-Dorota.Golenska@ec.europa.eu (please include your full name and the name of your university / organisation if applicable).
For more information on careers in the EU institutions and the upcoming vacancies please see http://www.eu-careers.eu
This event will not be streamed live, but will be available archived after the event.
On Tuesday 2 March, secondary schools from across Ireland will meet in Dublin Castle to debate a mock EU Directive on the use of electric cars in Europe. Teams of senior cycle students from almost 30 secondary schools will represent the Minister for Transport from each of the 27 EU Member States in the annual Model Council of the European Union debate.
A full list of participating schools is below. Please note that this list is provisional and is subject to change.
Representing
School
European Parliament
St Paul's Secondary School, Oughterard, Co Galway
Belgium
St. Clare's Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim
Bulgaria
St. Mary's Secondary School, Ballina, Co Mayo
Czech Republic
The Abbey School, Tipperary Town
Denmark
St Dominic's Grammar School for Girls, Belfast
Germany
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Estonia
Killarney Community College, Killarney, Co Kerry
Ireland
Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co Meath
Greece
Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co Tipperary
Spain
Dominican College, Wicklow Town
France
Portumna Community School, Co Galway
Italy
Scoil Mhuire Convent of Mercy, Kanturk, Co Cork
Cyprus
Cross And Passion College, Kilcullen, Co Kildare
Latvia
St Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk, Co Louth
Lithuania
The King's Hospital, Palmerstown, Dublin 20
Luxembourg
Glenstal Abbey School, Murroe, Co Limerick
Hungary
St. Brendan's Community School, Birr, Co Offaly
Malta
The Royal School Armagh
Netherlands
St Mary's College, Rathmines, Dublin 6
Austria
Christian Brothers Secondary School, Midleton, Co. Cork
Poland
Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Portugal
Deansrath Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Romania
Jesus and Mary College, Our Lady's Grove, Dublin 14
Slovenia
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin
Slovakia
St Mary's Secondary School, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
Finland
De La Salle College, Wicklow Town
Sweden
Coláiste de hÍde, Tamhlacht, BÁC 24
United Kingdom
St. Flannan's College, Ennis, Co Clare
The Council of the European Union is the main decision-making body of the European Union and is made up of government ministers from each Member State. Its main role is to pass EU laws. On most issues, EU legislation is adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council using a procedure known as "co-decision".
This is the fourth annual Model Council debate organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland. Last year's Model Council can be seen here: www.euireland.ie/modelcouncil2009.
This Thursday an information session on the European Citizens' Initiative for non governmental organisations is being webcast from this location. This new mechanism is created by the Lisbon Treaty and allows 1million European citizens make a policy proposal to the European Commission.
This will be of particular interest to individuals and civic groups who wish to contribute to European Union policy-making at the earliest stage. A copy of the European Citizens' Initiative Green Paper Consultation Document can be downloaded here. Currently the mechanism by which the Citizen's Initiative will work is open to public consultation until the end of January. All are invited to contribute at www.euireland.ie/citizens.
This event starts at 18.00 on Thursday January 21st 2010
European Union House
18 Dawson Street
Dublin 2
Guest speakers include:
Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D.
Mr. Proinsias de Rossa MEP
Professor Brigid Laffan, Principal of the College of Human Sciences at U.C.D
How can Irish NGOs take part in the Web 2.0 revolution and really use social media to their advantage? Well, this afternoon over 100 of Ireland's foremost community and activist groups were represented at a special free workshop, given by some of Ireland's brightest online marketing and social media consultants. This initiative was supported by the European Commission Representation in Ireland.
LIVE STREAM
The event will start at 13:00.
According to Damien Mulley, one of Ireland's leading online marketing specialists who organised the event, "With the ever-changing and fast moving world of the web and online media, we're hoping that this event will provide a good grounding on the basics so that NGOs can then use these to empower themselves and their supporters. NGOs are probably more important now in Ireland than ever before yet their resources are stretched even greater these days. We don't want to see them under pressure to pay to catch-up so we thought we'd put this event together."
Eddie McVeigh, of the European Commission, welcomed the workshop to the Representation by saying, "the Commission is convinced that the internet is an important tool in bridging the gap between Europe and the public. The web is not only a source of information but it can also be a tool of empowerment."
"The European Commission consultation process is a perfect example of this. Through web based engagement, citizens and NGOs like the ones here today can help us make legislation that meets the needs of society. But this can only happen if people know how to spread the word and social media can do just that."
The day's events are as follows:
Doors open 12:30
Event starts 13:00
Website and search optimisation basics
Blogging
Social Networks and Twitter
The day will wrap up with a panel discussion given by three leading Irish NGOs who have made developing a coherent online strategy central to their business, Barnardos, Spunout.ie and Askdirect. Darragh Doyle Communications Manager from Boards.ie will moderate this event.
Profiles:
Damien Mulley runs Mulley Communications and is a trainer and consultant in communications including online media.
Nick McGivney is a consultant in online marketing and media and previously has worked in the ad industry.
Darragh Doyle is one of Ireland's most famous bloggers and is the communications manager for Boards.ie, Ireland's largest discussion forum and home to hundreds of thousands of conversations between Irish people online.
Challenges for Irish Women in these difficult Economic Times
This networking event will be chaired by Olivia O'Leary, accompanied by a panel of experts, to discuss some of the main concerns facing Irish women in the current economic climate.
The event will take place on Saturday April 4th at 9.30 am at:
The European Commission's Representation in Ireland
18 Dawson Street,
Dublin 2.
There is no charge to attend this event but attendees must register, as places are limited. The conference will be followed by a complimentary lunch.
The speakers are:
CHAIRPERSON - Olivia O'Leary
Business: "Opportunities and Challenges" Sean Burke (Enterprise Ireland)
Business: "The Business Perspective" David O'Flynn, EcoCem Ireland (IBEC SFA Winner)
Healthcare/Wellbeing: "The psychological Impact of this on women." Dr Patricia Casey:
Strategic Perspective: Suzanne Kelly (Tax Expert) "Filling the growing demands with shrinking coffers (especially with regards to Healthcare"):
The European Commission would like to thank BPW Ireland, ICA, Network Ireland (and Network Dublin), NWCI and OWN for their input and assistance in organising this event.
Over 30 secondary schools from around Ireland will participate in the annual Model European Council debate in Dublin Castle on Tuesday 24 March. Each school is taking on the role of a different EU Member State to debate a proposal for an EU directive on renewable energy targets (namely that all EU Member States should produce 50% of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2020).
The Model European Council will take place from 10am to 2pm and will be officially opened by Minister for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D., the Czech Ambassador to Ireland Mr. Tomáš Kafka and the Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Mr Martin Territt. The debate will be chaired by Ruairí Quinn T.D.
The event which is now in its third year has been organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland.
To see a list of the schools that are taking part and which country each school is representing click here
To see the text of the mock European Commission proposal see here
For information on how your school can participate in the Model European Council in 2010, contact Joan Flanagan, Education Officer, European Commission Representation in Ireland, joan.flanagan@ec.europa.eu
Professor Richard Sinnott analyses latest Eurobarometer poll
Eurobarometer is a regular EU-wide poll of attitudes towards the European Union. It is carried out every six months in every Member State.
The first results for the 27 Member States, including some general data for Ireland, was published in December (see press release here for 18 December)
The detailed country-specific report for Ireland is to be published on Tuesday 17 February. The team who carried out the poll and analysis, led by Professor Richard Sinnott of UCD, will present the findings and take questions. The presentation and Q&A will take place from 10.30 am at the European Commission Representation in 18 Dawson street.
The event will be webstreamed at www.euireland.tv and Professor Sinnott has agreed to take a small number of questions from viewers on-line. Questions should be not more than about 50 words long and should be submitted by 11.15 am.
Public seminar on "Ireland and Europe in 2009 - An unclear horizon?"
The European Commission Representation in Ireland will host a public seminar on the theme of "Ireland and Europe in 2009 - An unclear horizon?" at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, on Monday 15 December at 11 a.m.
The list of speakers includes:
Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs
Joe Costello TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Europe and Human Rights
Lucinda Creighton TD, Fine Gael, Spokesperson on European Affairs
Public meeting on Ireland and Iceland: open economies in the financial storm
The European Commission Representation in Ireland will host a public seminar on the theme of "Ireland and Iceland: open economies in the financial storm" in the Royal College of Physicians, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, on 14 November 2008 starting at 11.30 a.m.
Speakers will include:
Joe Gill, Director of Research, Bloxham Stockbrokers
Paul Rellis, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland
Dan O'Brien, Senior Editor, Economist Intelligence Unit
The discussions will be chaired by Pat Leahy, Sunday Business Post.
If you would like to attend, please email barbara@q4pr.ie
Commissioner Margot Wallström interview with Ursula Halligan
On Thursday evening November 13th, the European Commission Vice President Mrs Margot Wallström will be interviewed live by Ursula Halligan on:
The future direction of the European Union
The Lisbon Treaty and what it means for Ireland
and difficulties of communicating Europe
The event was hosted by the European Movement Ireland, and webcast by euireland.tv. Due to a misunderstanding on the evening, we were unable to use the questions submitted over the web, which we very much regret. We hope to have Commissioner Wallström answer the questions over the coming week, and we will post the answers to this site.
The event was hosted by the European Movement Ireland, and webcast by euireland.tv. Due to a misunderstanding on the evening, we were unable to use the questions submitted over the web, which we very much regret. We hope to have Commissioner Wallström answer the questions over the coming week, and we will post the answers to this site.
The Irish blogging scene is still in its infancy. It is however gaining more and more prominence as a forum for exchanging views and helps feed mainstream media with ideas. Blogging gives ordinary citizens a platform to speak their mind to a wide audience. It gives people the ability to bypass the traditional media, and engage with others irrespective of geography, income or status. It is truly the most democratic of all media.
In October 2008, the European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Office in Ireland are acting as facilitators for a conference in Ireland. A number of independent bloggers have provided guidance on what they would like to discuss and who they would like to hear speak.
The theme of this event is: Organise, Activate and Influence: Social Activism Online in Ireland. On the day we will discuss ways in which civil society can harness the power of the blog and increase debate on a topic as well as enhance activism. What role does it really have in Ireland and where does the future lie.
The conference will bring together this community offline and allow a free exchange of ideas. Various keynote speakers from Ireland, Europe and the US have been invited to address the conference. Smaller workshops will discuss themes such as good reporting and legal protection for bloggers. An important part of the conference is to give bloggers an opportunity to network.
The keynote address is to be delivered by Zack Exley of Thoughtworks Inc who has created the influential American Blog the www.huffingtonpost.com. He has also worked closely in the Barack Obama presidential election team, and is credited as being the architect of his grassroots campaign finance system.
