Welcome Address by the President

Not only are these contacts maintained but new ones are made. Politicians and others who have addressed our meetings bring their ideas to an audience who question them with the intention of helping progress in all fields. Join us for the stimulating arguments we have which help mutual understanding.

Aims and Strategy

In order to achieve this aim, the Association has put in place a strategy design to maximize the opportunities for debate, dialogue and co-operation amongst the peoples of Ireland.

The Association's extensive programme of activities operates under three main headings:

• Political Dialogue - the promotion of ever more political dialogue through a series of seminars and conferences enabling politicians from all parties to debate freely even the most contentious issues.
• Social and Economic Affairs - detailed examination of the more immediate common problems and opportunities which transcend and yet influence political discussion. Again, seminars and conferences are the main vehicles for examining these areas.
• Cultural and Religious Heritage - the pursuit of mutual understanding of the different strands of cultural and religious tradition of the island, through conferences, lectures, open debates, exhibitions, theatre sponsorship, and publications.

New Contexts and the Future

The Irish Association, with its established reputation of fairness and hospitality to the most diverse traditions, is ideally placed to assist in this task.

The Irish Association will continue to provide as many opportunities as possible to encourage key participants in social and political change to put forward for examination and debate their ideas on the issues that will shape the patterns of life on this island in the years to come.

The Association will augment these debates through the deliberations of its think-thank. Composed of critical thinkers and business leaders from North and South, the think-tank will produce papers and pamphlets on the crucial conceptual, historical and social problems that underline the challenges facing the Ireland of today and tomorrow.

For democracy to flourish, all citizens must feel involved  in the shaping of a new, more open society, and the Irish   Association will continue to strive to reach the widest possible audience through talks and debates, publications, and the print and broadcast media.