Welcome to the Lemass International Forum

The Lemass International Forum (LIF) has been established to recognise the inspiration and achievements of Sean Lemass and the Lemass/Whitaker era. The Forum will consider the relevance of  the innovative approach of that era for present thinking and future development.

9th September: 2nd session of the Lemass International Forum. The Hop Store, Guinness Storehouse

Innovation

As Ireland and the world face into a period of major transition, the Forum will provide opportunities for the non - partisan engagement of creative thinkers, policy makers and opinion formers in exploring new thinking on Ireland’s future opportunities in a globalised  world.

Transforming Ireland

When Sean Lemass became Taoiseach in June 1959 Ireland was economically and socially stagnant with a culture which saw inertia, economic stagnation and population decline as inevitable. It had also a very narrow closed vision of sovereignty. Lemass challenged this pessimistic, closed and deterministic view of the future. This initiative, building on the thinking of TK Whitaker and supported by a small group of reforming Ministers, public servants and opposition members radically transformed the vision and the reality of Ireland’s economy and society.

As well as redefining and uplifting Ireland’s economy and society, they transfigured the accepted vision of Ireland’s sovereignty and our place in the global economy . Embracing the world would no longer be seen as a threat to the economy or to our identity as a nation.

Embracing the World

The innovations of the Lemass era shifted the vision of nationhood from the closed 26 county boundaries of a narrow nationalism and sovereignty to a new understanding which could embrace trade, investment and engagement with the rest of the world. The newly confident Republic would also be open to the integrating process of the European ‘Common Market’.

Changing Mind Sets - Part of the Legacy

Lemass’s openness to changing his mind went beyond economic and social policies. His evolution from fighting for Irish independence to forging, with the active involvement of T.K. Whitaker, friendly relations between the Republic and Northern Ireland helped to lay the foundations for the Good Friday Agreement 33 years later. It was, perhaps, this courageous capacity to change that was one of his most valuable characteristics. His leadership was never restricted by being a prisoner of the past. In today’s interconnected world, the capacity to change direction is a powerful asset.

Some themes the Lemass International Forum will address

1. Are there lessons from the Lemass/Whitaker legacy for tackling today’s  crisis?
2. How to rebuild confidence and trust in the world of finance, savings and investment?
3. New thinking for an era of continuous change – Ireland in transition .
4. ‘The wearing of the Green’ – Redefining Ireland’s sovereignty in a global world.
5.  A new vision for governance, policy formation and public service.
6. ‘From saints and scholars to innovators and bloggers – Ireland’s future as an island of ingenuity
7. Fifty years on from Lemass – The environment and economic growth – A new agenda?

Modus Operandi

The Lemass International Forum will promote innovative ways of thinking about the future and meeting current challenges. While the Forum will use well established and proven methods of working (e.g workshops, seminars, symposia, lectures, discussion papers, conferences, research, publications, website) it will encourage a creative and reflective approach to dealing with topics of importance to Ireland and the wider world.