Guest Speaker: Joan Burton, Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, and Leader of the Labour Party.

Joan was first elected the Dáil in 1992, and served as Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare from 1993 to 1994, during which she initiated a series of welfare to work and education initiatives. She served as Minister for Development Co-operation and Overseas Aid from 1994 to 1997, in which time she revamped Ireland’s development programme in Africa. She was the Labour Party’s spokesperson on Finance from 2002 to 2011, and opposed the bank guarantee in 2008. She was appointed Minister for Social Protection in 2011, and nominated Tánaiste in July 2014.

 This event is kindly supported by Brightwater.