[Speaking to the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs for European Movement Ireland on 12 June 2019, was our Executive Director, Noelle O Connell, and our Head of Policy and Advocacy, Daniel Keohane] Chair, Members of the Committee, Thank-you for your invitation to attend today’s proceedings to discuss Irish public opinion on, and engagement…
The weekend just gone was supposed to be Brexit weekend. But the UK government and the EU agreed at a recent summit to shift the Brexit date to at least April 12, and perhaps longer depending on what happens at Westminster. Even so, it is worth reflecting on the lessons of Brexit since the 2016…
With only 30 days until 29 March, the current official date for Brexit, both Ireland and the EU are preparing for a very undesirable but still-possible outcome: that the United Kingdom would leave the EU without ratifying the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Without that agreement, there would not be the legal arrangements in place (as today)…
European Movement briefing on the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU Focus over the next six months is on cohesion, according to Ambassador of Romania to Ireland, Her Excellency Manuela Breazu speaking at the European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) briefing on the first Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and…
Nothing has changed “We can choose to leave with no deal, risk no Brexit at all or choose to unite and support the best deal that could be negotiated”, UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons on 15 November 2018. That was just before the special summit where, after 18 months of…
EU leaders met in Brussels on 13-14 December for the final European Council Summit of the year to discuss a wide range of issues including: the Multiannual Financial Framework; the Single Market; migration; and external relations. On Thursday, EU leaders met in EU27 format to discuss Brexit, following an address given by UK Prime Minister,…
What is meant by a ‘meaningful vote’? Under the EU Withdrawal Act 2018, the UK House of Commons is legally entitled to have a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement reached by UK and EU negotiators, and its accompanying political declaration on the framework for a future relationship between the UK and EU. Since October 2016,…
European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) welcomes the publication of the Draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement reached between the EU–UK negotiators. Commenting on the developments, Noelle O Connell, Executive Director of EM Ireland, said today, “We welcome the progress and publication of last night’s Draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement. It is a credit to the perseverance…
European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland) Executive Director, Noelle O Connell, will give an address on the Irish experience holding a national conversation about the EU, to the French National Assembly at a conference in Paris today (8/11/18). Noelle O Connell will tell the conference that Ireland’s citizens’ consultations have provided a vital forum for people…
Commenting on today’s State of the European Union address by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Noelle O Connell, Executive Director of European Movement Ireland, said: “In his final address as Commission President, Mr. Juncker’s speech touched on a very broad range of topics and ambitions for the future: the role of the EU as a…