25 Apr 2013, 16:37
Members of the parliaments of EU Member States and the European Parliament meet in Dublin Castle this Monday, 29 April, to consider strategies to tackle unemployment and harness the potential of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
25 April 2013
The Oireachtas Joint Committees on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and on Education and Social Protection will co-host this meeting of Chairpersons of Employment, Enterprise, Innovation and Social Affairs Committees of EU Member States and the European Parliament.
The Conference will be addressed by EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr László Andor, along with the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton TD (programme below). Other speakers include:
- Joanna Drake, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
- Triona Campbell, Entrepreneur and Company Director, BeActive Media
- Wolfgang Burtscher, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
- Dr Imelda Lambkin, Enterprise Ireland
- Dr Mazhar Bari, Co-Founder of SolarPrint (Irish SME)
Chair of the Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Damien English TD says: “Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have a vital role to play in contributing to economic growth and employment in Ireland and the European Union. If the EU and Ireland are to deliver on the Europe 2020 priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, competitiveness needs to be centre stage. At our conference on Monday, we will hear from leading policymakers who are working to nurture enterprise-friendly environments for SMEs in Ireland and the European Union. Furthermore, we will hear from a number of entrepreneurs who will discuss what they see as the approaches required to foster business and innovation in these challenging economic times.”
Chair of the Committee on Education and Social Protection Joanna Tuffy TD, who will chair the opening session of the conference on youth unemployment, says: “There are few more urgent issues facing Ireland and Europe than that of unemployment. The conference will commence with a focus on initiatives to tackle the pan-European challenge of youth unemployment in particular. With figures for youth unemployment at worrying levels in a number of EU Member States, including Ireland, it is crucial that we engage with our European counterparts on how to prevent significant numbers of young people across the EU slipping into long term unemployment. It is intended that this opening debate informs our discussions through the course of the day on the imperative for sound and practical policy that creates the conditions for employment Europe-wide.”
The event is the fifth in a series of eight meetings being hosted by the Houses of the Oireachtas during the six month Presidency, details of which are accessible on parleu2013.ie. The Oireachtas Twitter feed @oireachtasnews will carry updates over the course of the day. A live webcast of the proceedings can be accessed via www.parleu2013.ie/live
Photos: Photos of the event will be available from Maxwells - tel: +353 1 830-8072 or email office@maxwellphotography.ie
Conference footage: Broadcast quality copies of the proceedings will be available from the OBU, who can be contacted on +353 1 6183789; mobile +353 86 8193399 or email facilities@picommunications.ie,
Media: Please note that the Werburgh Street Media Centre will not be open for this event. For further information or to register your interest in attending the event, please contact:
Paul Hand,
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
E: paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
or
Cáit Hayes,
Tel: +353 1 6183883
Mob: +353 87 9190300
E: cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie
Programme
Theme of Meeting: Strategies to combat youth unemployment and harness the potential of European Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
09.00 - Opening address, Damien English, T.D., Chairman, Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
09:10 - Topic: Youth Unemployment - An EU Challenge
Chair: Joanna Tuffy, T.D., Chairperson, Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection
Address by:
(i) László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
(ii) Joan Burton, T.D., Minister for Social Protection
10.30 - Family Photo
11.00 - Topic: Harnessing the Potential of European SMEs and Fostering an Entrepreneurial Europe
Chair: Damien English, T.D., Chairman, Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Address by:
(i) Richard Bruton, T.D., Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
(ii) Joanna Drake, Deputy Special Envoy for SMEs, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
(iii) Triona Campbell, Entrepreneur and Company Director, BeActive Media
14.00 Topic: Enterprise through Innovation
Chair: Damien English, T.D., Chairman, Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
(i) Wolfgang Burtscher, Deputy Director-General, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
(ii) Dr Imelda Lambkin, Director of the National Support Network for FP7, Enterprise Ireland
(iii) Dr Mazhar Bari, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, SolarPrint (Irish SME)
15.45 - Closing Address - Damien English, T.D., Chairman, Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Joanna Tuffy, T.D., Chairperson, Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection