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5 of 514

Designing Agricultural Climate Policy in Ireland - From 2030 to Net Zero
In this event, Alan Matthews, Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College Dublin, presents the key themes from his upcoming paper Designing Agricultural Climate Policy in Ireland - From 2030 to Net Zero. The paper, which is the third in the IIEA’s Pathways project, examines the strategic and institutional challenges involved in defining appropriate long-term targets for agricultural emissions in Ireland, and explores the ambiguities and trade-offs in setting 2040 and 2050 targets. It makes the case for exploring the introduction of an agricultural emissions trading scheme to incentivise further progress towards reducing net emissions, and how this could be designed to minimise the impact on farm income while encouraging the necessary structural changes in our food and agricultural system. Prof. Matthews’ presentation is followed by a discussion with an expert panel. Panel bios: Alan Matthews is Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and a former President of the European Association of Agricultural Economists. He is also a former member of the Irish Climate Change Advisory Council. His research interests include the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the relationships between trade and food security, and WTO trade norms and disciplines. Niamh Garvey joined the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) as Senior Policy Analyst in March 2021, where she works on sustainable development and climate action. Prior to this, she was Head of Policy and Advocacy at Trócaire, an Irish international development organisation operating in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In this role, she led a team of advisors focused on climate change, sustainable agriculture, business and human rights, and international finance. Niamh has also held research and advocacy positions with Christian Aid and the Institute of Development Studies and has served as a Board Director for several NGOs, including Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, Friends of the Earth Ireland, and Fairtrade Mark Ireland. She is a graduate of Durham University and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. Kevin Hanrahan is Head of Rural Economy and Development Programme at Teagasc. He leads the Rural Economy and Development Programme at Teagasc, based at the Rural Economy & Development Centre in Athenry, Co. Galway. His research focuses on the economic analysis of agricultural markets, including both input and output sectors, with a particular emphasis on agricultural land and factor markets. His research interests are in partial equilibrium modelling of Irish and European agriculture, the economics of climate change as it relates to agriculture, and the microeconomic impacts of agricultural policy reform. Dr Hanrahan also studies the effects of trade policy changes on Irish and EU agriculture and is a noted expert in the economics of Irish beef production.
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1:17:53
Land use change in New Zealand and its intersection with climate change policy
New Zealand’s emissions profile is even more heavily weighted towards biogenic emissions than Ireland’s. However, the country’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) has only targeted emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel. Attempts to extend it to agricultural emissions have been controversial and unsuccessful to date although current government policy is to target methane emissions by 2030. The ETS does, however, have a powerful influence on land use decisions. Emitters have unlimited recourse to forestry units as a means of meeting their obligations. Carbon forestry can deliver higher returns than sheep and beef on much of the hill country, resulting in tens of thousands of hectares being forested. In his address to the IIEA, Simon Upton discusses New Zealand’s climate policies and how the distortions that have resulted pose significant challenges for the future of both land use and emissions reductions. About the Speaker: Simon Upton was sworn in as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for a five-year term on 16 October 2017. Simon is now in his second 5-year term. Mr Upton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and a Rhodes Scholar, with degrees in English literature, music and law from the University of Auckland, and an MLitt in political philosophy from Oxford University. He was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council in 1999. A Member of Parliament between 1981 and 2000, Mr Upton held a variety of ministerial portfolios including environment, research, biosecurity, health and state services between 1990 and 1999. After leaving Parliament, Mr Upton moved to Paris to chair the Round Table on Sustainable Development at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2005, he returned to New Zealand to pursue a number of private sector roles while continuing to chair the Round Table.
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37:17
Rory Montgomery, Laurence Norman, Michael O'Sullivan and Paola Rivetti - 26th of June 2025
'The Israel-Iran Conflict: Implications and Outcomes' The forthcoming edition of IIEA insights will focus on the Middle-East's latest conflict and its consequences for the region, Europe, Ireland, and the global economy. Rory Montgomery, a former ambassador and Political Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, will look at the implications for Ireland and Europe; Laurence Norman, who has followed Iran’s nuclear programme over years for the Wall Street Journal, will set out the possible diplomatic and military outcomes; Michael O’Sullivan, Author and Adviser on Intersection of Investment and Geopolitics, will assess the economic and energy impacts of the conflict and any potential escalation thereof; while Paola Rivetti of Dublin City University will discuss Iran’s domestic politics and society. Rory Montgomery was a senior Irish diplomat for almost four decades, serving as Political Director at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative to the EU. He is currently Chairperson of the Press Council of Ireland. Laurence Norman is a Reporter at The Wall Street Journal based in Berlin and Brussels, covering the EU, European foreign policy, and nuclear issues. Over the last 20 years, he has reported for the paper from London, New York, and Buenos Aires. Michael O’Sullivan is an author, economist, and investor. He has twenty years’ experience in global financial markets, most recently as Chief Investment Officer at Credit Suisse Wealth. He is a Senior Adviser at WestExec, a Forbes contributor and author of ‘The Levelling’, which outlines what’s next in politics, economics, finance and geopolitics in the post globalisation era. Paola Rivetti is Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University.
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45:53
Getting Ireland AI-Ready
Is Ireland ready for the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? This event will explore both the opportunities and risks of AI for people and firms in Ireland. This expert panel discusses how Ireland can ensure that AI is harnessed in a safe manner that is aligned with fundamental rights and European values. The panel will also discuss emerging policy issues, including the implementation and supervision of the AI Act, the speed of technological change and how Ireland can ensure trustworthy AI innovation. This event is organised in collaboration with the Economic Regulators Network (ERN), a cross-sectoral group of economic regulators in Ireland. The ERN is composed of the Central Bank of Ireland, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Coimisiún na Meán, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the National Transport Authority (NTA), and the Commission for Aviation Regulation. This event begins with a keynote speech by Minister Niamh Smyth, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation The panel for this event include: Jean Carberry, Assistant Secretary, Digital, EU and Climate Programmes, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE); Dr Harshvardhan Pandit, Assistant Professor, Dublin City University; Trevor Fitzpatrick, Head Of Risk Analysis, Data Analytics & Reporting (RADAR) Division, Central Bank of Ireland; Noelle Doody, Managing Director for Data and AI, Accenture
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55:23
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