THE GLOBAL Irish Economic Forum brings together leading international figures with Irish links or with a strong connection to Ireland. The initiative was the brainchild of economist David McWilliams and organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is being held at Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
The forum aims to examine how Irish people at home and abroad can work together to generate ideas which could contribute to the State’s economic recovery.
Keynote speakers were chief executive of HSBC North America Brendan McDonagh, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and the retired chief executive of Intel Craig Barrett.
Other invitees were Aer Lingus chairman Colm Barrington, Coca Cola company’s executive vice president Irial Finan and businessman Denis O’Brien.
Financier Dermot Desmond, Cisco Systems senior vice president Barry O’Sullivan were also invited, as were the president and chief executive of the Ireland Funds Kingsley Aikins, secretary general of the European Commission, Catherine Day, and journalist Niall O’Dowd. Also attending were Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan. Several Ministers and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore also attended.