The Summer School provides a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges we collectively face and the solutions we can offer
A diverse range of expert and interesting guests, discussing some of the biggest challenges we face as a society, will join the Social Democrats’ Summer School this weekend.
On the programme, organised by The Left Bank, are discussions related to our recovery from the pandemic; the ability of our health service to cope with the challenges it now faces; making our towns and cities liveable and tackling deeply ingrained inequality in our society.
Among the speakers are Professors Sam McConkey and Luke O’Neill, who will join Oxfam’s Michael McCarthy Flynn and Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall for a discussion on the challenges facing the health service.
Senator Eileen Flynn, Lucky Khambule, from the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, and Age Action CEO Paddy Connolly will examine the truth of the notion that ‘we were all in this together’ throughout the pandemic.
Entrepreneur and podcaster Andrea Horan, former paralympian, and Public Engagement Manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association, John Fulham and former head of the Planning School in TUD, Henrik Van Der Kemp, will discuss how we can make our towns and cities more liveable, affordable and accessible.
Professor Jennie Stephens, author of ‘Diversifying Power: Why we need Anti-racist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy’’ and Dr Jamie Gorman, from the Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University, will discuss how we can progress climate action, reduce growing inequities, and promote social justice.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Jon Cruddas, economist and writer with the Financial Times Eric Longeran and Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy will lead a discussion on inequality and its threat to liberal democracies.
Commenting on the Summer School, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said:
“We are a party of passion and enthusiasm, a party of progressive ideas and progressive politics, and the Summer School is an excellent way of exploring, from a social democratic perspective, the issues we want to address.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said:
“The pandemic exposed divisions and inequalities in our society, and highlighted the decades-long dearth of investment in our public services. Now exposed, those deficiencies cannot be allowed to fester.
“Our role, as Social Democrats, is to lead the way to a better, more inclusive and more equal country. The Summer School provides a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges we collectively face and the solutions we can offer.”
In total, there are seven sessions which start at 7pm on Friday, August 27, and continue on Saturday, August 28. The event is remote and registration is free – and open to members and non-members alike.
See the Summer School brochure here
Register to attend here
26 August, 2021
Ends