[John Bruton] Ambiguity is often the enemy of peace. The First World War arose from ambiguity in the pledges the powers had given to one another in the event of attack. If the pledges had been clearer, the risks might not have been taken.
Tag: John Bruton
John Bruton is a former Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), who helped transform the Irish economy into the “Celtic Tiger,” one of the fastest growing economies in the world. He was also deeply involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, under whose terms a conflict of allegiances dating back to the seventeenth century was resolved.
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He also served as the European Union Ambassador to the United States (2004-09).
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While Prime Minister, John Bruton presided over a successful Irish EU Presidency in 1996 and helped finalize the Stability and Growth Pact, which governs the management of the single European currency, the Euro.
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John Bruton was first elected to the Irish Parliament (“Dáil Éireann”) in 1969 at the age of 22 as a member of the Fine Gael Party, becoming Party Leader in 1990 and leading it into government in 1994. He previously served as Ireland’s Minister for Finance (1981-1982 and 1986-1987); Minister for Industry & Energy (1982-1983); Minister for Trade, Commerce & Tourism (1983-1986); and was Parliamentary Secretary (Junior Minister) from 1973-1977. He has also been opposition spokesman on Agriculture and on Education.
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Currently, John Bruton is Chairman of IFSC Ireland, a private sector body set up to develop the financial services industry in Ireland. He is a member of the board of Ingersoll Rand plc, and of Montpelier Re plc. He is also a member of the board of the Centre for European Policy Studies. He is a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Transatlantic Relations in Washington DC, and a visiting fellow at the European Institute in the London School of Economics.
Ireland’s Coming Gas Shortage !
[John Bruton] The potential crisis of natural gas supply is simply accelerating a wider underlying electricity supply problem in Ireland.
EU Must React to UK’s Intent to Ditch Provisions of Northern Ireland Protocol
[John Bruton] The best approach for the EU will be to gradually turn up the heat on the UK so as to give them time to learn that actions have consequences, and the price could be very high.
What Lessons are to be Learned from U.S.’s Afghanistan Exit?
[John Bruton] The experience in Afghanistan and similar experiences elsewhere suggest that there is a strong temptation on USA's part to turn inwards and reduce commitments to the defence of other countries, including the European ones.
What Lessons are to be Learned from Article 16 Row?
[John Bruton] The more disharmony there is between the UK and the EU, the greater will be the political problems for both parts of Ireland.
UK’s Sovereignty over Northern Ireland Partially Sacrificed under EU-UK Deal
[John Bruton]
The latest EU-UK agreement gives the UK more sovereignty over the island of Britain, but loosens a considerable measure of its sovereignty over Northern Ireland.
What does the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Mean?
[John Bruton]
The new agreement between the EU and the UK would eventually shape up a system for ensuring fair trading and uninterrupted mutually beneficial business between the two in a post-Brexit Europe.
U.S. Presidential Election: Biden Ahead
[John Bruton] Joe Biden is doing better among women and the young than Hillary Clinton did, but losing ground among Catholic voters. It appears that policies matter more than the candidates' own identity.
‘No-Deal Brexit’ Still Possible
[John Bruton] Deal or No-Deal, the EU and the UK will gradually draw further apart, as will Ireland and Britain. Irish people will need to pay much more attention to politics in Paris, Berlin and Warsaw, and a little less to the English speaking world.
Brexit Issue in the EU Summit
[John Bruton] Nobody wants a disruptive “No Deal”. But a poorly drafted, last minute, Agreement that, within a year, breaks down in a multitude of legal disputes would be no use.
European Commission’s Independence must be Preserved
[John Bruton] The weakening of the institutional independence of the Commission is very damaging to European integration and to the interests of smaller EU states. This should be of concern to the European Parliament.
German Court Sets a Wrong Precedent for Other EU Member States
[John Bruton]
By undermining the European Court of Justice, the German Court is providing a precedent that could be used by semi authoritarian governments in some EU states, who do not like some EU decisions on matters like the rule of law, academic freedom, or media pluralism.
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