AIB announces 3-year sponsorship of DCU Brexit Institute
The DCU Brexit Institute has today announced a three-year agreement with AIB, who join Arthur Cox as an official sponsor of the Institute. The first centre of its kind in Europe, the DCU Brexit Institute was launched on June 23rd 2017, a year after the referendum in which the UK voted to leave the EU.
Analysing the major legal, political and economic challenges raised by the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the Institute comprises experts from a number of DCU’s faculties and schools, connecting them with specialists in Ireland, the EU and beyond.
The Institute has firmly established itself as a leading platform for documenting and debating developments in relations between the UK and EU.
Federico Fabbrini, Director of the DCU Brexit Institute and Professor of European Law at the School of Law & Government, DCU, said:
“Brexit negotiations are presently at a critical juncture. Against the backdrop of prevailing political uncertainty and unexpected institutional developments, the coming months and, indeed, years are critical in shaping the economic and social landscapes of the UK, Ireland and the EU for future generations. Today’s announcement of a three-year sponsorship by AIB of the DCU Brexit Institute is a vote of confidence in the Institute, and recognition of its contribution to date in promoting understanding of the challenges and opportunities that Brexit poses for business, government and society at large.”
He added:
“In its first 12 months, the DCU Brexit Institute has held over a dozen high-profile events in Dublin and other European capitals, featuring over 30 keynote speakers comprising current and former Prime Ministers, Presidents, EU Commissioners, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, leaders of independent institutions such as the Central Bank and World Trade Organisation, and prominent members of the EU, UK and Irish parliaments. In addition, the Institute’s members have produced a series of books, institutional reports and working papers, together with regular blogs on breaking developments. It is a certainty that that the Brexit process is set to continue for many years. With AIB’s support, the DCU Brexit Institute will continue to play a key national and international role in tracking the developments of the withdrawal process, starting with a kick-off conference for the new academic year on ‘Brexit by Design or by Default?’ " (Thursday, 6 September, The Helix, DCU). [Link to event here].
Marking the sponsorship announcement, Mary Whitelaw, AIB Customer Treasury Services said:
“AIB is delighted to sponsor the DCU Brexit Institute. This partnership will bring valuable insights to AIB group. We will continue to back our corporate and business customers, sharing with them key findings and advice to prepare them for various Brexit eventualities. We look forward to a dynamic and productive partnership with the DCU Brexit Institute which will benefit our customers.”
Welcoming the announcement, Professor Daire Keogh, Deputy President of DCU, commented:
“This commitment by AIB to the DCU Brexit Institute is hugely significant and most welcome. The Brexit Institute is an example of the engagement for which DCU is renowned. Brexit presents Ireland with an unprecedented challenge, but the Institute brings together the resources of the university and leaders in society and the economy to address its implications. We are delighted that AIB has joined us in this initiative; their support will add an important dimension to the Institute’s reflections and will greatly facilitate continued analysis to inform Ireland’s navigation of the Brexit challenge."