{"id":610133,"date":"2026-08-31T11:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/610133\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:54:20","slug":"kennedy-summer-school-puts-ireland-us-ties-and-corporate-tax-in-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/610133\/","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy Summer School puts Ireland-US ties and corporate tax in spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ireland\u2019s exposure to US multinational tax policy, the future of American politics and growing concerns over online radicalisation were among the issues debated at this year\u2019s Kennedy Summer School<\/a> in New Ross.<\/p>\n

The three-day event brought politicians, journalists, academics, economists, scientists and broadcasters to the Co Wexford town for a programme of political debate, economic discussion and cultural events centred on Ireland\u2019s historic links with the Kennedy family and the United States.<\/p>\n

One of the key economic discussions came from US trade expert Brad Setser, a former senior trade official and adviser to the Obama and Biden administrations.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Trade and Economic Forum, Setser warned that Ireland\u2019s substantial corporate tax receipts from US multinationals could become increasingly difficult for Washington to ignore.<\/p>\n

He said the scale of Ireland\u2019s corporate tax<\/a> take could feature more prominently in future US debates about the country\u2019s finances, and warned Ireland may eventually have to \u201cadjust their economic model\u201d if US tax policy changes.<\/p>\n

US politics was also under scrutiny, with journalist Lara Marlowe delivering a strongly worded assessment of the direction of the country at the Kennedy Speakers\u2019 Lunch.<\/p>\n

Marlowe said Donald Trump<\/a> and the MAGA movement had \u201ctotally reversed\u201d America\u2019s role in the world, describing the US as \u201ca very selfish, clumsy, incompetent giant\u201d.<\/p>\n

She also criticised the Irish Government over its handling of Aughinish Alumina and its links to Russia, arguing that Ireland should close the plant despite the potential impact on employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Irish argument is sophistry, not courage,\u201d she said, referring to the Government\u2019s position that it could not establish whether alumina from Ireland was ultimately being used in Russian weapons production.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Irish government says 475 jobs would be lost if the Aughinish plant closes. But those who act on principle do so regardless of the cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her speech received a standing ovation, while she also struck a more hopeful tone on the importance of courage in confronting political challenges.<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s relationship with the US was further examined when Ireland\u2019s Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason, officially opened the Summer School at St Michael\u2019s Theatre.<\/p>\n

In conversation with Professor Mary C. Murphy of Boston College, Byrne Nason discussed Ireland\u2019s relationship with the Trump administration and differences between the two countries over foreign policy, including Gaza and Palestine.<\/p>\n

She also delivered a message from Ted Kennedy Jnr, Kerry Kennedy and Joe Kennedy III thanking New Ross and those involved in the Summer School<\/a> for continuing \u201cthe legacy of the very important Kennedy family\u201d.<\/p>\n

That legacy was celebrated at an Afternoon Tea Party at the John F. Kennedy Arboretum, hosted by RT\u00c9 broadcaster Teresa Mannion.<\/p>\n

The event included music, stories and local hospitality, with the ICA recreating the fruit cake served to President John F Kennedy during his 1963 visit to New Ross.<\/p>\n

The programme also looked towards the future, with 180 primary school pupils attending a STEM event with 23-year-old Purdue University aerospace researcher Abigail Mizzi.<\/p>\n

Mizzi is preparing to become the first student to conduct research in suborbital space aboard Purdue I and encouraged the children to pursue ambitious goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis world is changing so fast, we\u2019re innovating,\u201d she said. \u201cThis technology was not available when I was 10, so keep dreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran broadcaster Pat Kenny attracted a full house for a fireside conversation with Eileen Dunne, reflecting on more than five decades in broadcasting and the changing media industry. He also brought his Newstalk radio programme to the Dunbrody Visitor Centre in New Ross for a Saturday morning broadcast.<\/p>\n

Online safety emerged as another major issue, with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na highlighting concerns around grooming, radicalisation and organised crime on online gaming platforms.<\/p>\n

Andrew McLindon, Director of Communications with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, said the situation was \u201caccelerating all the time\u201d, and argued that online gaming required greater attention alongside social media.<\/p>\n

American politics featured prominently throughout the weekend, including a discussion involving Maria Cardona on the future of the Democratic Party, the 2026 midterm elections and the race towards 2028.<\/p>\n

Affordability, healthcare, immigration and the Latino vote were among the issues examined, alongside the prospect of a crowded Democratic primary.<\/p>\n

A separate panel chaired by Larry Donnelly debated the first 18 months of Trump\u2019s second presidency, with Sarah Ryan, Scott Lucas, David Quinn and Marion McKeown offering sharply contrasting views on immigration, defence spending, tariffs, China and America\u2019s relationship with its allies.<\/p>\n

The Summer School concluded with a discussion on Irish politics, chaired by The Irish Times\u2019 Mark Hennessy and featuring Cynthia N\u00ed Mhurch\u00fa, Edward Timmins, Marie Sherlock and Conor McGuinness.<\/p>\n

The panel examined whether Ireland is making effective use of its unprecedented corporation tax revenues, with concerns raised over the sustainability of relying on windfall receipts.<\/p>\n

Other events included a discussion marking 100 years of Fianna F\u00e1il, contemporary Irish writing and a debate on the future of hurling.<\/p>\n

\"KennedyKennedy summer school official opening by Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason in St Michaels theatre. Photo: Mary Browne<\/p>\n

Kennedy Summer School chairperson Eileen Dunne said the event demonstrated the strength of the programme and the support it receives from the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce again, New Ross has provided a remarkable platform for conversations that matter, while keeping the Kennedy legacy at the heart of the programme,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to building on this momentum for 2027.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo: Maria Cardona CNN. Photo; Mary Browne<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ireland\u2019s exposure to US multinational tax policy, the future of American politics and growing concerns over online radicalisation…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":610134,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[61,60,43],"class_list":["post-610133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=610133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610133\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/610134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=610133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=610133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=610133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}