The 2009 MacGill School will bring to Glenties up to forty contributors drawn from the spheres of politics, industry, economics and the media to discuss the overall theme of the school,THE IRISH ECONOMY-WHAT WENT WRONG?-HOW WILL WE FIX IT?

Eminent thinkers will analyse and debate the serious economic crisis in which Ireland finds itself and will in particular try to propose ways of regenerating the economy. During five days of intensive discussion, with sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening, topics to be addressed will include:reforming and regulating the banks, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA),restoring competiveness, creating the smart economy, facing up to the challange of massive unemployment and the implications of the Lisbon referendum for the Irish economy.

With chaos in the banking system, a steadily increasing budget defecit, growing unemployment set to reach almost 17% next year as companies in every sector try to cope by reducing staff and costs, a strong euro currency reducing further our competitiveness the collapse of domestic consumer confidence and a huge public service bill for which money has to be borrowed the country is facing its greatest challange ever. And yet ways and means will have to be found to weather this violent storm and new and fresh thinking applied to rebuilding our economy.

Having dealt with how the Celtic Tiger met its end this years MacGill School will turn its attention to the future and to how the counatry can climb out of this recession and move forward. The MacGill School, for many years a major national forum for debate and discussion on topics of social, economic and political concern, promises again to be a hugely important event.
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