Launch Event for the Mini-Public Deliberation on Constitutional Futures
23rd September 2021, 10am—1pm
On the 23rd of September 2021 the Institute for British-Irish Studies in collaboration with the Democracy Unit, Queen's University Belfast will host an event a launch event at which researchers will share the findings of the Mini-Public Deliberative Forum on Constitutional Futures organised by the Constitutional Futures after Brexit Project.
The event will take place from 10am-1pm online. Register online at: (opens in a new window)https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/168415056969, or email (opens in a new window)ibis@ucd.ie.
Prof John Garry, The Democracy Unit Lead, Queen’s University Belfast
Prof Brendan O’Leary, Lauder Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr Jamie Pow, Queen’s University Belfast
Agenda:
10am: Opening Remarks (Dr Dawn Walsh & Dr Paul Gillespie)
10.10: Session I, Chair: Dr Dawn Walsh
Key Findings from the Mini-Public Deliberative Forum
Prof John Garry & Prof Brendan O’Leary
11.00: Break
11.15: Session II, Chair: Dr Dawn Walsh
The Status Quo, Scotland, Reconciliation and the Shared Island Unit: Key Findings and Policy Implications. Dr Paul Gillespie & Dr Roland Gjoni
12.00: Session III, Chair: Dr Paul Gillespie
Potential for Greater Citizen Engagement in Constitutional Conversations. Panel Discussion and Q&A.
Prof David Farrell, Dr Jamie Pow, Prof Jane Suiter, Prof Jennifer Todd
12.50: Concluding Remarks (Dr Dawn Walsh)
Background:
In 2019, IBIS established the Constitutional Futures after Brexit (CFaB) as a three year project to conduct research on the implications of the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU for the constitutional futures of these islands (UK and Ireland). The project addresses the principal levels of possible constitutional change in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the EU and is implemented across three substantive pillars: 1) analysis, 2) deliberation, and 3) public policy proposals.
To advance the deliberation pillar – aimed at ensuring greater citizen engagement in public policy and political decisions through an inclusive, fair and accurate consultation process open to multiple perspectives - IBIS organised “Mini-Public Deliberative Forum on Constitutional Futures” with 50 randomly selected citizens of the Republic of Ireland. The Mini-Public Deliberation Forum was implemented by the IBIS-led expert team consisting of deliberative democracy specialists, policy advisors and constitutional futures experts from UCD, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Pennsylvania It took place in April 2021 and was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.
Full project details available here.
The Democracy Unit | Queen's University Belfast
The Democracy Unit provides a vibrant intellectual space for academics who conduct research on the subject of democracy and wish to discuss their work with other researchers, the public and the policy community. Established as a research centre in 2019, The Democracy Unit organises seminars, public lectures, colloquia and major international conferences. For more information about the Democracy Unit see:
(opens in a new window)https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/the-democracy-unit/