I was in Madrid last week to address a meeting organised on behalf of the Community of Madrid.

The government of the Madrid region is headed by one of the leading figures in Spanish politics, Esperanza Aguirre. The theme of the conference was Innovation.

Also speaking was Alvaro Uribe, the clear sighted and brave former President of Colombia, who defeated the terrorist threat to his country and gave it the opportunity to grow again. Read the rest of this entry »

A new fiscal compact was announced on 9 December by the Euro area Heads of Government, as a means of protecting the stability and integrity of the Economic and Monetary Union, and of the European Union as a whole.

This is a vitally important goal, especially for Ireland which has gained more than almost anybody else in terms of market access, funds, and influence since it joined the European Union in 1973.

It is most important for Ireland that this fiscal compact be credible with the markets, and also understandable by the electorates of all 27 EU member states. Read the rest of this entry »