Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider’s View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead
For the past 80 years, the US dollar has held the status of the world’s primary reserve currency. However, following President Trump and his administration’s policies, this status currently looks at risk. In his address to the IIEA, Professor Kenneth Rogoff discusses his new book Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider’s View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead. Professor Rogoff illustrates how the US Dollar reached its current status as the world’s primary reserve currency. He also discusses the challenges it faces from the likes of crypto and the Chinese yuan. Professor Rogoff also considers how the current US Administration’s policies will impact the dollar’s role in the world economy.
About the Speaker:
Kenneth Rogoff is Maurits C. Boas Professor at Harvard University and former chief economist at the IMF. His influential 2009 book with Carmen Reinhart, This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly, shows the remarkable quantitative similarities across time and countries in the roots and aftermath of debt and financial crises. Professor Rogoff is also known for his pioneering work on central bank independence and exchange rates. His monthly syndicated column on global economic issues is published in over 50 countries. His 2025 book, Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider’s View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance explores the post-war rise of the dollar, the challenges ahead from crypto and the Chinese yuan, and argues that the period of reliably low interest rates, inflation, and exchange rate volatility has likely come to an end.
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22:54
Preparing for a Cleaner Future: UK-Ireland Cooperation on Energy Challenges
In his address to the IIEA, Fintan Slye discusses NESO’s new organisation and how it is supporting the UK Government’s ambitions to achieve clean power by 2030. Fintan Slye also touches upon UK-Ireland and UK-EU energy cooperation, and NESO’s recent work on reforming the process for connecting to the electricity transmission system.
About the Speaker:
Fintan Slye is the Chief Executive Officer of National Energy System Operator (NESO). NESO is an independent organisation responsible for planning Great Britain’s entire energy system, operating the electricity network, and offering expert advice to the sector’s decision makers. The organisation brings electricity and gas network planning under one roof, plotting the country’s course for clean power and paving the way for lower energy bills. Prior to this, Fintan led Great Britain’s Electricity System Operator (ESO) as its Executive Director. He was also CEO of the EirGrid Group and worked for McKinsey & Co, supporting clients across Ireland, the UK and Europe, as well as holding various management roles in ESB in Ireland and the United States. Fintan is a Non-Executive Director at AEMO Services Limited, which is based in Sydney, which is responsible for planning the level of investment in generation and storage over time in New South Wales, including designing and running the competitive tenders to deliver this. He holds an Engineering Degree, a Master’s in Engineering Science, and an MBA from UCD and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland. He also has a keen interest in law, holding diplomas in Legal Studies and European Law.
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21:16
Dan O'Brien - 12th of June 2025
'The Economic Outlook at Mid-Year'
Despite intense uncertainty in the international trading system and heightened geopolitical tensions, both the Irish and global economies proved resilient in the first half of 2025. As we move into the second half of the year, Dan O’Brien, the IIEA’s Chief Economist, will present his economic outlook during the next event in the Institute’s Insights series. He will examine issues such as growth-positive technological changes and Europe’s under-discussed strengths.
Dan O'Brien is Chief Economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs. He is also Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at University College Dublin’s Geary Institute and a Columnist with The Currency. He has previously worked for Economist Intelligence Unit, the Irish Times, the European Commission and as a consultant for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Forfas.
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26:16
European Security and the EU White Paper on Defence
Europe faces an acute and growing threat. The EU Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 outlines how Europe will need to do more to ensure to protect European citizens. This IIEA panel discusses how Europe can develop its capabilities. Moreover, it explores how European Member States can collaborate effectively to replenish diminished stocks of equipment to not only provide for their own security, but also to meaningfully support partners such as Ukraine in their defence against Russia’s war of aggression.
This event has been organised in association with the European Commission Representation in Ireland.
Speakers include:
Minister Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence
Guillaume de la Brosse, Head of Unit for Defence Policy and Innovation at DG DEFIS
Brigadier General (Retired) Tony Cudmore, Former Brigadier General in the Irish Defence Forces and Adjunct Lecturer at Maynooth University
Dr Alice Ekman, Research Director at the EU Institute for Strategic Studies (EUISS)
Professor Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute.
This event was moderated by Catherine Day, Former Secretary-General of the European Commission and IIEA Board member
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1:06:19
Constructing a Solidarity Based Migration Framework
'The Value of the Revised Draft Declaration on International Solidarity as a Corrective to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum'
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets forth a solidarity mechanism that seeks to ameliorate inequalities in responsibility for processing asylum claims. NGOs are concerned that States are pursuing externalisation agreements and strengthening border security arrangements to promote deterrence in bad faith. The Revised Draft Declaration on International Solidarity provides a framework to correct the misunderstanding of solidarity with the EU Pact. In her address to the IIEA, Professor Bailliet presents the elements of an international solidarity human-focused asylum mechanism that ensures non-discrimination, provides access to justice, calls for a reversal of externalisation and keeps the best interests of the child at its core.
About the Speaker:
Professor Dr. jur. Cecilia M. Bailliet is the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity and Director of the Masters Programme in International Law at the University of Oslo. She supported the creation of an International Solidarity Map: Solidarity Actions Around the World. She is Co-Chair of the Latin America Interest Group of the American Society of International Law. Prof Bailliet holds a combined J.D./M.A. (honours) degree from The George Washington University Law School & Elliott School of International Affairs. She received her Doctorate in law from the University of Oslo in Norway. Prof Bailliet has published extensively on transnational and cross-disciplinary issues within international law including general public international law, human rights, refugee law, constitutional law, counter-terrorism, gender/women's rights, solidarity, and peace. Prof Bailliet's books include: Research Handbook on International Solidarity and the Law (2024), The Construction of the Customary Law of Peace: Latin America and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2021), and The Research Handbook on International Law and Peace (2019). She has also contributed lectures to the UN AudioVisual Library of International Law.
Ireland