Event report

Link to event proceedings: https://glencree.ie/homepage-highlight/political-discourse-webinar/ Event quotes: Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography (represented by Head of Cabinet): "The need for ethical and respectful political discourse concerns us all. Respectful discourse knows no borders, has no political party affiliation and is intergenerational. Responsibility for a lasting, ethical and respectful political discourse lies with each one of us. If we want to leave a democracy to future generations that is worthy of the name, then ethical and respectful discourse must lie at the heart of this ambition. For John Hume, difference is, and I quote “the essence of humanity. The answer to difference is to respect it”. This, he said, was the fundamental principle of peace. I agree. I believe that the respect of difference is a fundamental principle of democracy." Su Moore, Chief Executive, Jo Cox Foundation: "Addressing the intimidatory and abusive culture in political discourse matters. It matters for the diversity of our public life, it matters for the way in which the public can engage with representative democracy, and it matters for the safety and emotional wellbeing of the people it affects. A healthy, functioning democracy that values respectful and compassionate debate is not just a recognition of everything Jo Cox believed in, it is essential to all our futures." Professor Timothy J. Shaffer, Director, Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy US: "Civil discourse isn’t an abandonment of challenging or divisive issues. It’s actually a way for us to have deep disagreements but be together at the table.” Civil society requires some modicum of civility. We need politics. Otherwise, we simply turn to violence. What should you and I do as citizens? To answer that question, we need to be able to engage in political discourse that allows us to wrestle with policies and not simply attack one another." Barbara Walshe, Chair, Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation:: "Democratic life suffers if we increasingly gravitate to people who share our views alone and to media representations that present us with ‘the offensive other side’, we need ongoing dialogue". Sean Farren, Chair of John & Pat Hume Foundation: "There is an urgent need to promote civility in politics where differences are respected, where ethical and civil dialogue is embraced and where efforts are focused on working together to enhance and better serve democracy, diversity and political decision-making".