Working of The Forum
The operation of the Forum was based on the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation (FPR), with an independent secretariat headed by the Assistant Secretary from the Department of the Taoiseach, and membership consisted of representatives from the Oireachtas and nominees based on the 1997 general election.
Representatives of political parties in Ireland and figures from the European Parliament addressed the forum, such as Peter Sutherland, Pat Cox, Jens Peter Bonde MEP, and David Byrne (former Commissioner).
A number of organisations made presentations and submissions, such as the Irish Farmers Association, National Platform, People's Movement, Institute for European Affairs, Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC), Union representatives, and a the representatives of the main churches in Ireland. The forum held sessions in Dublin Castle, but also a number of events and meetings around the country.
RTE Broadcaster Mr Derek Davis was the host at one of the sessions for the forum in Kilmainham.
Read more about this topic: National Forum On Europe
Famous quotes containing the words working and/or forum:
“Comes from a fine family. So she tells me. Brother’s a priest, all that. But, you know, death, disaster, unfortunate investments. One day she’s a little princess, up on the hill. Next, she’s down there, working the bars for the best she can.”
—Peter Prince, British screenwriter, and Stephen Frears. Harry (Bill Hunter)
“What is called eloquence in the forum is commonly found to be rhetoric in the study. The orator yields to the inspiration of a transient occasion, and speaks to the mob before him, to those who can hear him; but the writer, whose more equable life is his occasion, and who would be distracted by the event and the crowd which inspire the orator, speaks to the intellect and heart of mankind, to all in any age who can understand him.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)