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2026 FMA Visit to Ireland
The Former Members Association at the European Parliament (FMA) is pleased to announce the visit of an FMA delegation to Dublin from 21 to 23 October 2026.
The delegation, composed of 32 former members of the European Parliament from 12 different EU countries, and the United Kingdom, will be led by FMA Vice-President Monica Baldi. José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, member of the FMA Management Committee, will also be part of the delegation.
The main objective of this visit is to listen to the priorities of the Irish EU Council Presidency and to explore ways to address the most pressing issues on the EU agenda. The FMA delegation will be pluralist in terms of political parties, reflecting a broad range of perspectives and ensuring a constructive and balanced exchange of views.
The programme includes a visit to the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament), where the FMA delegation will meet Hon. Verona Murphy, Ceann Comhairle (Speaker). A meeting is also scheduled with Mr Barry Ward, Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Committee on European Union Affairs.
This will be followed by a visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a briefing with Ms Deirdre Farrell, Deputy Director General of the EU and Trade Policy Division and Director of EU Strategy, and Mr Michael Lonergan, Director of the European Parliament Unit.
The delegation will also meet with Ms Kara Owen, British Ambassador to Ireland at the British Embassy in Dublin.
A dinner debate celebrating the FMA’s 25th Anniversary will also take place during the visit. This will provide an opportunity for dialogue with Irish FMA Members, with valuable contributions by Ms Emer Costello and Ms Frances Fitzgerald.
At the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland, the FMA delegation will be welcomed by Ms Fionnuala Croker. Students from Trinity College Dublin will join these meetings.
The delegation will participate in the panel discussion “Nobel Price Winner John Hume and His Legacy – The Good Friday Agreement”, moderated by Ms Susan McKay, Irish Press Ombudsman. The panellists will be Mr Bertie Ahern, Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, Mr Mark Durkan, former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and Board Member of the John and Pat Hume Foundation, and Ms Liz O’Donnell, Former Minister of State at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
This will be followed by a panel discussion on competitiveness and security, moderated by Ms Frances Fitzgerald, with valuable contributions by Former President of the European Parliament (2002-2004) and of the Former Members Association (2010 to 2014) Mr Pat Cox, Mr Stephen Collins, Journalist and former editor of the Irish Times, Ms Catherine Day, former Secretary-General of the European Commission, and Mr Mark Mellett, former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.
A full report about the FMA visit to Ireland will be included in the FMA December 2026 Bulletin.