The Debt Crisis in Ireland: Exploring the Options

dublin | eu | event notice Monday September 19, 2011 14:18 by Feasta

Date: Thursday afternoon 22nd – Friday 23 September 2011
Venue: Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin

As the Eurozone debt crisis deepens each day, leading International and Irish economists discuss urgent national strategies for dealing with the fall out in Ireland.

This two-day event will address several key questions – Can Ireland rely on global economic growth to resolve its public debt crisis? What is the relationship between energy, the crisis and future economic growth? What about private debt problems including mortgage debt? Can the Euro survive? Should Ireland plan for a Euro-zone break up? Is anything to be gained by leaving first? Could a new Irish currency working in parallel with the Euro be a better solution?

Minister Joan Burton TD will open the conference. Leading international economists have been invited to respond to these important questions:

US based Marshall Auerback (Roosevelt Institute Fellow & global portfolio strategist for Madison Street Partners, LLC) will address the quandary of the Eurozone from a provocative new monetary perspective.

Prof. Charles Goodhart (member of the Financial Markets Group at the London School of Economics & former monetary adviser to the Bank of England) will discuss the merits of a parallel/ secondary currency model.

Bernard Lietaer (author of ‘The Future of Money’ & international expert in currency systems) will share his insights into the potential benefits of regional currencies within a larger monetary union.

Respected Irish economists of both mainstream and alternative viewpoints will engage with these ideas, discuss their own proposals and fully explore the options available to Ireland. Speakers include Fergal O’Brien (Chief Economist – IBEC), Richard Douthwaite (Sustainability Economist and Author), Dan O’Brien (Economic Editor- Irish Times), Paul Sweeney (economist with ICTU), Prof Ray Kinsella (UCD, Michael Smurfit Business School.), Constantin Gurdgiev (Adjunct Prof. of Economics TCD) and David Korowicz (Physicist and Human Systems Ecologist).

The audience will be encouraged to fully participate in the debate, which will be stimulated by moderators who are also expert in their fields. Moderators include David McWilliams (Economist), Peter Mathews (TD, Chartered Accountant and Banking and Finance Consultant), Prof. Terrence McDonough (Economics Dept. NUIG), Karl Deeter (Irish Mortgage Brokers), Graham Barnes (IT Currency Consultant), Deirdre de Burca (Former Green Party Spokesperson on EU affairs) and Emer O’Siochru (Architect and Renewable Energy Developer).

The conference is aimed at economists, politicians, policy-makers, business people, social partners and other interested parties.
Date: Thurs & Friday September 22nd & 23rd
Registration: 1.00pm Thursday 22nd Sept.
Conference: Thurs 2.00—5.30 p.m
Friday 10am – 4pm
Venue: Mont Clare Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Conference Fee: €80 full conference, €60 one day,
€250 Corporate Fee,
concessions for Feasta and IEN members.

Please submit enquiries to conference [AT] feasta.org. Advance booking is essential.

Conference programme (pdf)
Register for the conference
Read Graham Barnes’ preview article on the Parallel Punt