Rebuilding the economy to dominate MacGill sessions

Rebuilding is the theme of today’s sessions at the annual MacGill Summer School.

Reconstructing the banking system, creating a world class education system and growing the economy through research and innovation are all up for discussion.

And this evening Minister of State Brian Hayes is amongst speakers discussing management of the economy and public finances after the Troika.

During the first session Dr Donal Donovan, former deputy director of the IMF taking part in a panel session with financial journalists Brendan Keenan and Richard Curran.

The discussion will be steered along the lines, “what do we need to know and where should it go from here”.

The early afternoon session is entitled "developing our own resources and research/innovation are key". It has financial journalist Eamon Fingleton, Philip O'Doherty of E&I Engineering, David Horgan of Petrel Resources and economist and RTE presenter George Lee.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn will be the keynote speaker during the later afternoon session; Building One of the Best Education Systems in the World and Accessible to All, is crucial".

This panel includes Prof Brigid Laffan, the new director of the Robert Schuman centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence, and the president of Dublin City University, prof Brian MacCraith.

The closing session looks at how the economy will faire when the Troika disengages with Ireland.

Speakers taking part in this session along Mr Hayes include Dublin City University economist Tony Foley, Fianna Fail's spokesman on finance Michael McGrath and Peter Breuer, the resident representative to Ireland from the International Monetary Fund.

The speakers will be addressing a full audience at the Summer School with very few unfilled seats. It is a reflection of the issues under discussion today, which reach deep into the Irish financial condition and our ability to rebuild from the wreckage left behind by half a decade of recession.