Ireland in the EU: In conversation with Noelle O'Connell

in that context noel what would have been the primary objective for those who perhaps aren't up to speed entirely with the european movement and its objectives what would have been seen to be your main role

yes well for your listeners who may not be familiar with european movement it essentially as an organization european movement international really rose out of the ashes of the second world war founded by people like gasperi schumann and churchill to actually bring the nations and the peoples of europe together so that there would be peace and that we would not recourse back to the horrors of what was the world war ii And by creating greater unity and connection amongst the people and the nations of Europe from a pan-European civil society perspective and bringing people together, that's where European movement arose.

And in most EU member states and even further afield, there is a national council representing that same ideal and that same vision and mission.

Ireland always had a very strong, committed cohort of people who in a constructive, critical friend way to the EU as a project, believed, however, that Ireland's place, its role, its contribution was very firmly at the heart of Europe.

Not in a blindly cheerleading way, but that our influence and our contribution could be effective in making the EU work better for all its citizens.

And I think that shining light, that fire, was something that very much inspired me throughout my journey.

And

so that was about raising awareness, about highlighting the issues that affected Irish people, perhaps particularly in terms of the EU policy agenda, but also maybe raising consciousness of EU affairs.

Absolutely.

That navigating and acting as a conduit and an explainer and a facilitator, bringing people together, creating fora for dialogue, healthy debate and discourse.

But also then, I saw it very much as well about... amplifying the Irish voice and influence at a European level to ensure that our input was equally important, was valid and valuable, and could work collectively in partnership with the other member states, the other institutions, agencies, bodies.

civil society organisations, stakeholders, etc.

to make the EU work better.

And I mean, I saw that very much to the fore.

You talked about the conference on the future of Europe.

I was very fortunate to be appointed by the Irish government following an open competition to be Ireland's national citizen representative to the conference on the future of Europe.

So along with 26 other national citizen representatives, I really saw that best in class practice of participatory civil democracy, citizen assembly type format that Ireland is world renowned leader for really work in a European context.

And, you know, I think that was one of the highlights, the highlights of my career.

And in a very strange way, Brexit equally was, right, because Not the outcome, let me clarify that, not the result, but how I saw the level of support for Ireland's membership of the EU rising to historical highs of 93% in those days, but how it reminded people of Ireland.

the importance of continually nurturing and investing in our relationship with the EU and how you can't, from a communications and an engagement perspective, ever be complacent and afford to take the foot off the pedal.

And I think that is something that even through the dark days, and Mary, you would know from the work that you were found and the crucial work that you were found did back during those Troika early days, Ireland's relationship and our connection with Europe has evolved, I think, to something a little bit more mature, less supplicant.

We are and it's something I would like us to even be a little bit more assertive, more more aware of the importance of constructively putting forward and defending not only our values, which are hugely important and great to see those as one of the themes of the Irish presidency, but our interests as well.

And I think we, I don't think they're either or, you know, I think it's something that we need to...

So, Noelle, when you talk about that and what you've seen in terms of the evolution, not only in your time as CEO of your, I mean, but prior to that, how Do you see that as being a maturity process essentially for Ireland?

Yes.