I think it's worthwhile posting dates only here - discussion of treaty gigs can take place on another thread if people are interested. Notdevsson and I seem to attend quite a lot of the same ones and seem to see them very differently at times (is that a challenge NDS? )

The next couple of weeks will be pretty busy.
If you add an event, please put the day and date in bold at the top of the post so that readers can see at a glance just when something is on.

Please feel free to add what's going on from your political perspective or if there's something planned pin your local area.

Forum on Europe Events
Plenary Sessions

It's worth attending at least one of these if you can - the colour and the bile of the Q&A sessions have to be seen to be believed. Great debates too (and that's not an afterthought!).

14th April 2008 3.00 pm
St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle

Ms Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.


17th April 2008 pm
St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle

Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission


24th April 2008, 11:00 am
St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle

Mr Enda Kenny, leader Fine Gael

National Forum on Europe
Regional Meetings

The speakers for these events haven't yet been confirmed but as soon as I know, I'll post details here.

Again these are worth visiting. There is usually a great range of opinions, perspectives and I hear something new at each one (and I've been to a LOT of them). There are a couple of trolls and there are some party political broadcasts but the defining factor for me has been the local needs and attitudes which are so varied. In Donegal there was consternation about abortion and that God isn't in the treaty but in Tralee there were concerns about fisheries and agriculture.

And you may say that some (if not all) of these issues have nothing to do with the actual treaty but these are the concerns of the voting masses (and often the people who represent them).

There will be more dates for early May but these have yet to be confirmed.

Mon. 21 April, 8.00pm
Limerick Clarion Hotel

Weds. 23 April, 8.00 pm
Drogheda D Hotel

Thurs. 24 April, 8.00 pm
Tallaght Plaza Hotel

Tues 29 April, 8.00 pm
Portlaoise Heritage Hotel

This is a great line-up with a little bit of everything.

PUBLIC CONFERENCE ON THE TREATY OF LISBON
Friday, 18 April 2008
2.30 p.m. – 5.30pm


President’s Hall, Law Society of Ireland,
Blackhall Place, Dublin 7



THE TREATY OF LISBON AND THE IRISH REFERENDUM: PERSPECTIVES AND REFLECTIONS

The conference is open to all and is free of charge.
Solicitors'/Barristers’ CPD Allocation: 3 Hours Group Study


PROGRAMME


2.30pm - 2.40pm: Introductory Comments, Chairman Maurice Hayes

2.40pm - 3pm: “Reflections on the Treaty of Lisbon and the Irish Referendum” Peter Sutherland

3pm - 3.20pm: "Giving the EU the constitutional form of a State" Anthony
Coughlan

3.20pm - 3.30pm - Questions and Answers
_________________________________

3.30 - 3.50pm: "The Treaty of Lisbon: Intergovernmentalism Resurgent,
Constitutionalism Moribund?" Professor Michael Dougan

3.50pm - 4.10pm: [TOPIC TO BE CONFIRMED] Speaker from the Libertas Institute

4.10pm - 4.30pm- Tea break
_________________________________

4.30pm - 4.50pm: "The Treaty of Lisbon, the Consequences for Europe's
Smaller States" Mary Lou McDonald, MEP

4.50 - 5.10pm: "Interpreting the Treaty: The Court of Justice after
Lisbon" Dr Niamh Nic Shuibhne

5.10pm - 5.30pm - Questions and Answers

5.30pm: Closing remarks



SPEAKERS' PROFILES:

Anthony Coughlan is Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin and Secretary of the National Platform

Michael Dougan is Professor of European Law, Jean Monnet Chair in EU law, Liverpool Law School

Mary Lou McDonald is an MEP and member of Sinn Féin.

Niamh Nic Shuibhne is Reader in EC Law, Director of Postgraduate Studies; School of Law, University of Edinburgh.

Peter Sutherland is Chairman of BP plc and a former EU Commissioner.

Speaker from the Libertas Institute. The Libertas Institute is a new European movement, that is opposing the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon in Ireland.



As space is limited, you are requested to register in advance to reserve your place. All legal practitioners wishing to avail of CPD points should indicate this when registering to ensure that certificates of attendance can be collected on the day. To reserve your place and for further details, please contact: Dr. Elaine Fahey, Committee member, ISEL by email: elaine.fahey@dit.ie or telephone: (01) 402 7183.

I was just about to post up the Libertas Dates - a whistlestop tour around the country with three destinations each day - early morning, lunchtime and after work (no prizes for guessing the target audience there!) except that all the details have vanished from the website since the other day.

Each meeting was to last 45 minutes, as far as I recall.

I'll post them here as soon as I can locate them.

Fine Gael Meetings, which like Libertas will only have one side of the 'debate' represented...

Event Date : MONDAY, 14 Apr 08
Start Time : 21:00
End Time : 22:30 Jim Higgins MEP to address.
Location : Ramada Hotel, Letterkenny

Event Date : THURSDAY, 17 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:30 Gay Mitchell MEP
Location :Terenure College Templeogue Rd, Dublin 6W


Event Date : FRIDAY, 18 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:00 Jim Higgins MEP
Location : Hotel Kilmore, Cavan Town


Event Date : FRIDAY, 18 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:30 Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Colm Burke
Location : Templemore Arms Hotel

Event Date : MONDAY, 21 Apr 08
Start Time : 21:00
End Time : 23:00 Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD,
Location : Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare


Event Date : THURSDAY, 24 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:00 Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Colm Burke
Location : Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway


Event Date : MONDAY, 28 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:00 Fine Gael Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Billy Timmins TD, and his constituency colleague, Andrew Doyle TD,
Location : Charlesland Golf Club, Greystones

Event Date : MONDAY, 28 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:00 Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD,
Location : TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar


Event Date : TUESDAY, 29 Apr 08
Start Time : 20:00
End Time : 22:00 Jim Higgins MEP
Location : Menlo Park Hotel, Galway City