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UCD Smurfit School hosts inaugural event of the new “Growing Ireland” speaker series ‘ Social Partnership, how we built 20 years of progress’

Date: 14 Nov 2007

Pictured at the event from the left to right – Professor Tom Begley, Dean, UCD Business Schools, Dr. Rory O’Donnell, Billy Attley, Paul Haran, Chairman, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, John Dunne and Paddy Teahon.

While not solely responsible for the Irish economic miracle, social partnership has made a significant contribution to the creation of the political, economic and social life of modern Ireland.  Wednesday 7th November saw UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School host its inaugural event of the new “Growing Ireland” speaker series “Social Partnership, how we built 20 years of progress”.

The event brought together a group of four people who brought their perspectives to bear on the enormous challenges facing Ireland in 1987 and through a partnership approach helped forge a new Ireland. Theirs was an insider’s perspective and one that we should reflect on as we seek to address the problems of today.

The panel of guest speakers included, Billy Attley then President of Ireland’s largest trade union, SIPTU, John Dunne then Director General of IBEC and its precursor the FUE, Paddy Teahon then Chairman of NESC and Sec. Gen. of the Dept. of An Taoiseach and Dr. Rory O’Donnell, Director General of NESC.

Chaired by Paul Haran, Chairman, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, the session involved a presentation by each of the guest speakers, followed by a highly interactive question and answer session with the audience, which comprised of senior leaders in Ireland today both North and South.

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