The Contribution of Cohesion and Urban Policy to Economic Recovery REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES JOINT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES JOINT ANNUAL CONFERENCE in conjunction with The Department of Public Expenditure & Reform IRISH PRESIDENCY CONFERENCE ON: The Contribution of Cohesion and Urban Policy to Economic Recovery Wednesday June 19th 2013 Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin Admission is free. Booking is essential.

2 The Contribution of Cohesion and Urban Policy to Economic Recovery This is a crucial time for Europe s Cohesion Policy. It is also a time of great challenges, both for Ireland and for the entire European Union. Europe s regions and cities have a vital role to play as the motors of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, by promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and the knowledge economy, employability and accessibility, whilst also addressing the challenges of equality, social inclusion and sustainable development. At the heart of Europe s Cohesion Policy is the principle of partnership with regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society organisations. Ireland s Regional Assemblies are co-hosting this conference in association with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform within the context of Ireland s Presidency of the European Council. This is Ireland s seventh presidency, and 2013 also marks the 40th anniversary of Ireland s membership of the European Union. Membership of the Union has played a considerable role in Ireland s economic, social and political development in the intervening four decades and over recent years the European Union has been a key and valued partner in Ireland s programme of recovery. Cohesion funding is a powerful investment vehicle which lies at the very heart of Europe s growth agenda and will be one of the primary instruments available to the Union and to Member States to reinvigorate the European economy and promote growth and job creation in the years ahead. NUTS II Regions The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly The Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly The conference will explore the contribution that EU Cohesion and Urban Policy can make to economic recovery in the years ahead and in particular, under the forthcoming round of structural and investment funding. The conference brings together key European, National and Regional speakers who will address the theme from their unique perspectives. The speaker panel includes those who have been involved in framing Cohesion Policy along with those who manage and benefit from the programmes at regional and local levels. 3

3 Conference Programme The Contribution of Cohesion and Urban Policy to Economic Recovery 9:00-9:30 Registration - Tea/Coffee on arrival Conference Chair: Mr Gearóid O Keeffe, Principal Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 9:30-9:40 Welcome Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Cathaoirleach (Chairman) Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly 9:40-10:10 Official Opening & Keynote Address - Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 10:10-10:40 The role of the European Investment Bank and Financial Instruments in supporting EU Cohesion Policy - Mr Jonathan Taylor, Vice President, EIB 10:40-11:10 Tea/Coffee Break 11:10-11:35 Cohesion & Urban Policy as a facilitator of Smart, Sustainable & Inclusive Growth in the EU - Ms Charlina Vitcheva, Director, D.G. Regio, European Commission 11:35-12:00 The contribution the Higher Education sector can make to Smart & Sustainable Growth - Dr. James Browne, President, National University of Ireland, Galway 12:00-12:25 A Business Perspective on ERDF and Regional Priorities - Mr Reg McCabe, Head of Regional Policy, IBEC 12:25-12:45 Panel Discussion 12:45-14:15 Lunch 14:15-14:40 Synergies between Private Investment & Public Funding at Local & Regional Levels - Mr Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Member of Welsh Assembly and the Committee of the Regions 14:40-15:05 The role of Local Government in stimulating economic recovery in the Regions - Mr Tim Lucey, Cork City Manager 15:05-15:30 Preparation for the next generation of Regional Operational Programmes Mr Stephen Blair, Director, Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly 15:30-15:50 Panel Discussion 15:50-16:00 Closing Address - Cllr. Frank Dolan, Cathaoirleach, Border, Midland & Western Regional Assembly 4

4 Speakers Cllr. Dermot Lacey - Cathaoirleach, Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly Cllr. Lacey is a member of the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly since Sept. 2004, representing Dublin City Council and Dublin Regional Authority. On the City Council, he is Leader of the Labour group, Chairman of the Housing SPC, member of the Finance & Protocol Committees and representative on City of Dublin VEC. He has served as Lord Mayor of Dublin and Cathaoirleach of the Regional Authority. He was previously a member of Dublin Docklands Development Council. Cllr. Lacey is Executive Secretary of the Association of Labour Councillors and is currently the Chairperson of the South Inner City Local Drugs Task Force. He is particularly committed to Housing & Local Government Reform and has published proposals A Fair City - One Dublin Many Dubliners. Dermot is a lifelong member of the Scout Movement. Mr Brendan Howlin T.D. - Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform Brendan Howlin is an Irish Labour Party politician. The Minister s political career has spanned over 30 years to date and he has represented the people of Wexford as a Teachta Dála (T.D.) since During his career he has served respectively as Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Health. In 2011, he was appointed Ireland s first Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the eponymous Department being established formally by statute in July of the same year. The Minister is charged with controlling public expenditure and ensuring the necessary reforms in how the public service works. Mr Jonathan Taylor - Vice President, European Investment Bank Jonathan Taylor has been a Vice President of the European Investment Bank since January He is a member of the EIB s Management Committee which draws up the Bank s financial and lending policies, oversees its day-to-day business, and takes collective responsibility for the Bank s performance. Mr Taylor has particular responsibility for the Bank s activities in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He also leads the Bank s work in climate action, and in other environmental lending policies. Internally, he is responsible for a range of control functions, such as audit, compliance and related issues. Mr Taylor was previously Director General of Financial Services and Stability at HM Treasury (the UK Finance Ministry). He has held a range of posts in both the private and public sectors. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford, in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Ms Charlina Vitcheva - Director, D.G. Regio, European Commission Ms Vitcheva is Director at the European Commission, Directorate General for Regional Policy since April 2009 to date. She is responsible for the Competence Centre for Inclusive Growth, Urban and Territorial Development and the implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. In her previous post, she has been Director of the European Integration and International Cooperation Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, managing the pre-accession preparation and the accession negotiations, head of the agriculture and fisheries team in the trade negotiations under the Europe Agreement and in the framework of WTO, head of department in the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU. Dr. James Browne - President, National University of Ireland, Galway On 6th March 2008, Dr. James J. Browne became the twelfth president of NUI Galway. A native of Athlone, Co Westmeath and an engineering graduate of NUI Galway, Jim Browne is a former Dean of Engineering ( ) and prior to becoming President he was Registrar and Deputy-President of the University for seven years. He has a record of achievement in academic leadership, strategic planning and change management within NUI Galway. Dr. Browne has published over 200 academic papers and 15 books, including translations into French and Chinese. He was awarded the degree of D.Sc. by the University of Manchester for published work in 1990 and he is a member of both the Royal Irish Academy and the Irish Academy of Engineering. 5

5 Mr Reg McCabe - Head of Regional Policy, IBEC Reg was previously chief executive of the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council, having formerly been projects director with special responsibility for infrastructure investment and R&D/innovation. He has also acted as director of IBEC s transport and logistics council and its Public Private Partnership (PPP) council. He has lectured and written extensively on PPP and on transport policy issues and has a particular interest in issues relating to infrastructure, freight logistics, ports and shipping. Mr Rhodri Glyn Thomas - Committee of the Regions Rhodri was born in Wrexham in He attended the University of Wales Aberystwyth, Bangor and Lampeter. He is a minister of religion, and is also a company director. He is a fluent Welsh speaker. Rhodri was first elected to the Assembly in May His political interests include agriculture and the rural economy, Europe, and social and transport issues. When Plaid Cymru entered into a coalition government with Labour in July 2007, Rhodri was appointed as Minister for Heritage but later resigned the position in He has served as Chair of the Health, Culture and Rural Development Committees. He has also served as a member of the European and External Affairs Committee and the Sustainability Committee. He is the Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Local Government and Regeneration. Rhodri represents the National Assembly for Wales on the European Union s Committee of the Regions. Mr Tim Lucey - Cork City Manager As Cork City Manager since September 2010, he leads the development of Ireland s second city and largest economic region outside of Dublin. Under his direction the City Council has significantly increased its role and participation in leading the economic development of the Cork City Region despite the challenges faced in delivering local government services in the ongoing economic climate. He is also the Designated Regional Manager of the South West Regional Authority, a Director of Cork City Enterprise Board and the Crawford National Gallery and is the current Chairman of the County and City Managers Finance Committee. Mr Stephen Blair - Director, Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly Appointed inaugural Director of the Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly when it was established in Responsible for managing Structural Funds Regional Operational Programmes for successive programming periods and Chair of these Programme Monitoring Committees. The Assembly is also the designated Managing & Certification Authorities for a maritime cross-border programme with Wales. Represents Ireland on a number of Monitoring Committees for European Territorial Co-operation Programmes. Prior to taking up his current post, Stephen worked for many years in the Planning Service in Local Government in Ireland, including the 1990 s as Waterford City Planning Officer. A graduate of both Trinity College Dublin, and University College Dublin Stephen holds Masters Degrees in both Planning and Public Management. Cllr. Frank Dolan, Cathaoirleach, Border Midland & Western Regional Assembly Cllr. Frank Dolan, Doonkelly Five Mile Bourne, Co Leitrim is Cathaoirleach of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly since July, Cllr. Dolan was first elected to Leitrim County Council in 1999 for the Manorhamilton Electoral Area and has been a member of the BMW Regional Assembly and the West Regional Authority since Cllr Dolan is actively involved with a number of Community Groups in Leitrim and was Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council in 2010/

6 Location The Royal Hospital Kilmainham (RHK) is situated in Dublin City opposite Heuston Station, adjacent to the M50, Dublin Airport and the main national routes. Museum Entrance on Military Road By bus: Buses to Heuston Station (5 minutes walk via Military Rd): 26 from Wellington Quay; 51, 79 from Aston Quay; 90 Dart Feeder Bus from Connolly and Tara Street Stations to Heuston Station. Buses to James St (5 minutes walk via steps to Bow Lane onto Irwin St and Military Rd): 123 from O Connell St/Dame St; 51B, 78A from Aston Quay. On foot: Approximately 30 to 40 minutes from city centre. By train: 5 minute walk from Heuston Station; From Connolly and Tara Street Stations take 90 bus to Heuston Station or Luas from Connolly Station to Heuston Station. By Luas: Red line to Heuston Station, 5 minute walk to Museum entrance on Military Road. Information on Luas park and ride options are available at By car: 10 minute drive from city centre. Free car parking is available on site. 7

7 The Great Hall The Conference will be hosted in The Great Hall situated in the North Range. Delegates can access the courtyard via the West Arch adjacent to the carpark. State Room Oak Room Drawing Room Johnson Room The Great Hall Baroque Chapel The History of the RHK The founder of the Royal Hospital was James Butler of Kilkenny Castle, who was Duke of Ormonde and Viceroy to King Charles II. Inspired by Les Invalides', then recently opened as Louis XIV's home for his army pensioners, Ormonde obtained a charter from King Charles to create a similar building in Kilmainham. He laid the foundation stone in 1680 and presided over its completion four years later. The architect for Kilmainham was William Robinson, official State Surveyor General. Of his many other buildings only Marsh's Library, Dublin and Charles Fort, Kinsale, still stand. The Royal Hospital in Chelsea was completed two years later and contains many similarities of style to Kilmainham. 8

8 For enquiries please contact Karen Coughlan Tel. No: (0) Fax No: (0) Visit the Regional Assemblies websites: and