University of Limerick Symposium on the European Dimension in Irish Education

On 10-11 May, the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, will both participate in the University of Limerick’s two day symposium on the place of Europe in the Irish education system.

The symposium, which takes place on the 50th anniversary of the referendum to

pass the third amendment to the Irish constitution permitting the State to join the European Communities, is being supported by both departments as part of the government’s EU50 programme of events organised to mark 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership. The event is also part of the University of Limerick’s own 50th anniversary programme UL50.

Noting that members of the EU transformed Ireland’s skills policy development, Minister of State Collins said:

"This transformation served to emphasise that the EU was not just predicated on the economic forces underpinning a single market, it wanted to strengthen the capacity and skills for all to benefit in the emerging context. It is also worth noting that this was accompanied by a complementary regulatory framework designed to set standards around conditions of employment and other equality dimensions."

Minister of State Thomas Byrne said:

"I am delighted to participate as a keynote speaker in this week’s symposium on the European Dimension in Irish Education. I am looking forward to the discussion on the role that education plays in teaching the young people of Ireland about Europe. Almost six years on from the Brexit vote, and as we look towards the next 10, 20, 50 years of our EU membership, a reflection on the place that the EU occupies at all level of our education system is a timely and important one. I welcome that the current holders of the Presidency of the Council of the EU and our closest neighbours in the EU, France, are also part of this discussion today as indeed are many international stakeholders as well as my colleagues in the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science."