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Association of European Journalists Irish Section

Welcome to the AEJ Irish Section homepage.

War in the Ukraine, the situation in Kosovo and AI dominated the 2023 AEJ Congress in Vlore, Albania 

By Tim Ryan, Treasurer, Irish Section EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, the situation in Kosovo and the war in Ukraine were the focus of the Annual Congress of the 2023 AEJ in the southern Albanian city of Vlora from 25 – 28 October. In addition, the question of...

Charlie Flanagan TD speaks to the AEJ

Friday, 13th October, 2023 Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin I inherited my father’s seat. I am part of one of these dreadful dynasties Irish politics is noted for; but I can say from my own perspective it was never really like that. It wasn’t inheriting the seat - it...

Rory Montgomery Speaks to the AEJ

22nd September 2023 Rory Montgomery Chairman of the Press Council and Director on the Steering Commttee of the Arins Project, shaping the future of Ireland The problems facing the Good Friday Agreement are rooted in political fundamentals. But could changes help put...

Wesley Boyd R.I.P.

By David Davin Power Wesley Boyd served as Head of News in RTE during the most violent years of the Troubles, and was widely credited with maintaining the reputation of the station for impartiality and even-handedness during a period of intense political turmoil. He...

Rory Carroll talks about his bestselling book “Killing Thatcher,” the lead up and the aftermath of the Brighton bomb in 1984.

I wanted the readers to enter these different worlds — even within the IRA there were these different subcultures, and likewise with the police and the Tories and the people around Thatcher — to see how they all experienced the Troubles. It’s not about shifting...

Speech by the Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, to mark World Press Freedom Day

Thursday, 4th May, 2023 Firstly, I would like to thank the Association of European Journalists for inviting me here today to mark the 30th Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day.  Thank you for the invitation to be here to discuss the reforms of...

Comments by Press Ombudsman, Susan McKay.

Friday 10th March, 2023. The office of the Press Ombudsman is independent. It is not a statutory body. Many people make the mistake of somehow thinking we are connected with the State because we are recognised in law under the Defamation Act. In fact, we are...

Comments by An Garda Síochána Commissioner Drew Harris, at the RDS Members Dining Room, Friday 14th October, 2022

Leading members of the Kinahan crime organisation are more likely to be taken down by international policing authorities than face justice in Dublin, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris stated. Mr Harris said the granting of permission by the High Court this week to seize...

Visit and address by the British Ambassador Paul Johnston, Friday 10th June, RDS, Dublin

The British Ambassador Paul Johnston and AEJ Secretary Eileen Dunne with Mahnoor Choudhry, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin  winter of the 2022  Smedias award for best article on an EU theme.  The prize of €1,000 is sponsored by the EU Representation Office in...

AEJ members visit UCC and hear at first hand the challenge of Brexit

Professor Anand Menon addresses issues on Brexit  is Director of the UK in a Changing Europe, a unique initiative funded by the Economic and Social Science Research Council based at King’s College London. The UK in a Changing Europe aims to make the findings of...

Peter Sutherland: his memories of introducing the Erasmus programme

In memory of Peter Sutherland RIP, former Attorney General and EU Commissioner, we publish the winning article in the SMedia 2017 (sponsored by the EU Representation in Ireland). The article focuses on Peter Sutherland's introduction of the Erasmus programme in 1985...

Policing Authority Chairwoman Josephine Feehily on future of the force

The head of the Policing Authority has said a new Garda commissioner could be an “outsider” but that the package for the role needs to be improved. Chairwoman Josephine Feehily, addressing the Association of European Journalists, outlined outstanding reforms needed in...

Press under threat like never before: Sean Donlon

The press in Ireland is threatened today as never before, the chair of the Press Council, Seán Donlon, has said. Addressing a meeting of the Association of European Journalists in Dublin, Mr Donlon said there were two main threats: the first was posed by tech...

Press Council Chair to address members’ meeting

Seán Donlon, the Chairman of the Press Council, will be our next guest speaker for our lunch (1pm) on Friday, 13th October, 2017, at Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2. Seán Donlon has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors.  His public sector career...

The future of food: Origin Green

Address byTara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia, at AEJ lunch. Through Origin Green, the entire food industry is measuring its sustainability performance. The aim is to set a baseline against which to measure future improvements. Each week, a team of over 100 auditors...

Critical minds for critical times

  Address by Jon Williams, Managing Director, News and Current Affairs, RTE, at Speakers' Lunch, Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on Friday, 12th May, 2017. In 1984, the editor of Colombia’s El Spectatador newspaper, Guillermo Cano wrote “Only the independence, the...

Osce Representative on freedom of the media

We, the undersigned, major journalists’ and freedom of expression organisations, are writing to urge the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to ensure continuity of the Office of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media at...

Minister Shane Ross on challenge facing independents

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, was guest speaker at our lunch in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, where he covered a wide range of topics, including the challenge facing Independents in forming a Government and sustaining an administration....

Minister Shane Ross TD – opening speaker of 2017

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, will be our guest speaker at the opening lunch of 2017 which takes place on Monday, 30th January, 2017, at Buswells Hotel, Dublin, 12.45pm sharp. The lunch costs €30 and please note that, in addition,...

Brexit is defining political challenge: Phil Hogan

    Speech by EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner, Phil Hogan at Christmas lunch, Hilton Hotel, Dublin. I'd like to share a few thoughts on the current political landscape in Europe. Let me first say a few words on Brexit, which is the defining...

Brexit must not distract EU from core values

Brexit must not distract EU from core values

By Mairead McGuinness MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament. Address to the 2016 AEJ Congress, Kilkenny. The EU needs to be careful that Brexit does not become the tail that wags the dog and results in the EU 27 losing focus on the major challenges and...