Last month, we celebrated our annual Culture Night, or Oíche Chultúir as Gaeilge, across the country. More than 1,700 events took place in various Irish towns and cities, from queer céilithe to language lessons. Culture Night seeks to “actively promote the belief that culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives”. But what about…
On 17 September, at a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed the structure of the next European Commission (2024-2029) and presented her College of Commissioners, as well as their associated portfolios. There will be 11 women in the College of Commissioners and 16 men, representing a gender…
On 7 June 2024, citizens across the EU voted to elect 720 Members of the European Parliament. 54% of these MEPs were elected for the first time. However, the European elections were just the first step in a broader change (and continuation) of the guard of the European Union’s institutional leadership. This Just the Facts…
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of society. Many companies and sectors were required to operate remotely without the necessary online resources or digital systems. This increased the overall vulnerability of digital systems within the EU and heightened the threat of cyber-attacks across the Member States. The EU has established the NIS-2 Directive and…
From major high-street retailers, like Zara and H&M, to ‘Haute Couture’ (high fashion) luxury designer brands, like Dior and Hermés, Europe is undoubtedly the home of global fashion and design. The European high-end fashion industry holds enormous power, employing over one million people, with five million people directly employed by the European fashion industry more…
On Monday (12 August), Irish athletes returned home from Paris after what was Ireland’s most successful Olympics ever and were welcomed by cheering crowds outside Dublin’s GPO. Across the two-week games, the 133-person strong squad earned 4 gold and 3 bronze medals, finishing 19th in the overall Medals Table. Originating in Ancient Greece, the Olympics…
Happy LGBTQI+ Pride from the EM Ireland Team! Over the months of June, July, and August, the rainbow flag will colour streets, windows and doorways across Ireland to celebrate Pride. Pride parades will take place in a variety of locations across the country, including Limerick, Carlow, Kerry, Cork, and Galway. This year, Dublin Pride celebrated…
After months of delays and some resistance, on 17 June 2024, the EU’s landmark Nature Restoration Law received its final approval from environment ministers in the Council of the EU. Almost 9% of Irish land is expected to be directly affected by the EU Nature Restoration Law. This Just the Facts explains why the Law’s…
Between 6-9 June 2024, millions of citizens across the 27 countries of the European Union had the opportunity to vote and elect the 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who will represent them for the next five years (2024-2029). The majority of MEP candidates in Ireland are members of national political parties. However, MEPs…
In just over one week, on 7 June 2024, Irish voters will head to the polls to elect their chosen representatives in both local and European elections. The European Parliament elections represent the world’s biggest cross-border elections. In Ireland alone, an estimated 3.4 million people are eligible to vote, while over 400 million people are…