Parliamentary Symposium 2022

More about the Parliamentary Symposium

Background to the Symposium

This Parliamentary Symposium was an initiative by the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, in advance of the next Oireachtas session, to expose members of parliament and interested representative groups and individuals to a cross section of views and to generate conversations on increasing diversity within our representative democracy. Gatherings such as these provide an important opportunity before the beginning of a new legislative term for Members and guests to meet and reflect on a topic not usually discussed within the confines of the Oireachtas, to build lasting and meaningful relationships all across the political spectrum and to engage with outside voices to take on board their views and opinions.

This was the 3rd Symposium hosted by the Ceann Comhairle. The first discussed Brexit, the second dealt with Mental Health and the theme for this year’s is Enhancing Greater Participation in Public Life and Politics/Parliamentary Life.

The theme for this year’s Symposium

The theme for this year’s Symposium was decided following the work done by the Family Friendly Forum which published its recommendations in November 2021.

The Forum’s recommendations are intended to make the parliamentary community a more attractive, rewarding, and accessible career option for both men and women of all ages and from all walks of life and help ensure that our national parliament has a parliamentary community that is family friendly and inclusive in its composition, structure, operations and methods of work. This includes the challenges of how best to increase the number of TDs and Senators elected from diverse backgrounds. It also covered the findings from a recent Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality.

The three themes that are being focused on at this years Symposium were:   

• Reflecting the diversity of 21st century Ireland in the Parliamentary Community
• Representing the interests of Young people
• Promoting Women’s participation in the Parliamentary Community

Who attended the Symposium

• Oireachtas Members from Dáil and Seanad Éireann
• Members of the Northern Ireland, Assembly (MLAs)
• Irish Members of the European Parliament,
• Former Members
• Lord Mayors from Local Authorities
• Relevant non-Governmental Organisations
• Secretary Generals from Government Departments
• Ambassadors of the European Union

Symposium livestream programme

The Symposium was a one-day event and selected sessions of the Symposium programme were livestreamed. The livestream programme included the following sessions:

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Time	Activity
10:30 — 10:45	Welcome by An Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl and introducing MC, Doireann Garrihy
10:45 — 11:00	Session 1: “Reflecting the diversity of 21st century Ireland in the Parliamentary Community” Keynote Address: Furkan Karayel – Author, Diversity, and Inclusion Speaker
11:00 — 12:00	Panel Discussion: Senator Fintan Warfield (Moderator) Senator Eileen Flynn (Panellist) Stephen Frost – Diversity, Inclusion and Leadership Expert (Panellist) Shairoze Akram – GAA Diversity Ambassador (Panellist) Nicola Kelly – Development Worker, Inner City Organisations Network (Panellist)
12:00 — 12:15	Q and A
12:15 — 12:30	Family Photo - Printworks - Livestream suspended
12:30 — 14:00	Lunch - Livestream suspended
14:45 — 14:15	Session 2: Representing the interests of Young people Keynote Address: Harry McCann – Founder of Digital Youth Council
14:15 — 15:15	Panel Discussion James O’Connor TD (Moderator) Agata Walczak – Manager, Global Project on Parliaments as Partner Supporting Women, Peace and Security UNDP (Panellist) Cllr Daniel Céitinn – Sinn Féin (SF) (Panellist) Israel Olatunde – Irish Professional Track and Field Athlete (Panellist) Noah Halpin – TENI’s Healthcare Officer (Panellist)
15:15 — 15:30	Q and A
15:30 — 15:40	Comfort Break — livestream suspended
15:40 — 15:55	Session 3: Promoting Women’s participation in the Parliamentary Community Keynote Address: Rachael Rollins (US Attorney General for the District of Massachusetts) (Virtual Participation)
15:55 — 16:55	Panel Discussion: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (Moderator) Hon. Patricia Torsney, Permanent Observer to the United Nations – Inter Parliamentary Union (Panellist) Emily O’Reilly – European Ombudsman (Panellist) (Virtual Participation) Cllr Yemi Adenuga – Nigerian-Irish Politician FG (Panellist) Rachel Weston Eschenbacher – Regional Policy Specialist on Political Participation and Governance, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (Panellist) Alison Cowzer – Chairperson Women for Election (Panellist)
16:55 — 17:10	Q and A
17.10 — 17:30	Closing Remarks by An Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl and Cathaoirleach Mark Daly
17:30	Livestream concludes