The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charles Flanagan TD, is to give the keynote address on the potential impact of Brexit at a major conference which begins in Kilkenny tomorrow Friday (4th November) which will be attended by journalists from across Europe.
Minister Flanagan will be addressing the theme of “Brexit and its implications for Europe” at the annual Congress of the Association of European Journalists which this year is being hosted by Ireland. Over 70 journalists from across Europe and further afield will be in attendance. The conference concludes on Sunday.
Among the other speakers at the opening session on Brexit in the Rivercourt Hotel in Kilkenny are: AIB Chairman, Richard Pym, and British Ambassador, Robin Barnett. Stephen Collins, Political Editor, The Irish Times, will also be on the panel.
The opening day’s programme also includes a lunch which will be addressed by Mairead McGuinness MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament.
The afternoon session focuses on “1916-2016: The Changing Face of Europe and its Media.” Mark Little, founder of Storyful and Managing Director, Twitter Ireland, will give the keynote address. Other contributors will be: Giles Portman, Head of the East Stratcom Task Force of the European External Action Service; Mark Duncan, Historian and Director RTE Century Ireland, and Brendan Keenan, Chairman of the Editor’s Code Committee of the Press Council of Ireland.
The conference on Saturday focuses on Press freedom and attacks and murder of journalists worldwide. A number of reports will be published outlining ongoing threats to the freedom of the press.
The Association of European Journalists is a representative body for journalists working in over 22 countries in Europe. Delegates are drawn from various sectors, including news, business, diplomacy, financial, conflict and foreign reporting.