Recent News and Upcoming Events

Making Babies: a conference on the ethics of Assisted Human Reproduction

On Saturday, December 5 2009, The Iona Institute will be hosting a half-day conference from 2pm to 4.30pm in the Georgian Suite of Buswells hotel, Molesworth St, called ‘Making Babies: Towards a child-centred view of Assisted Human Reproduction’. The main speaker will be Irish Times columnist, Breda O’Brien (Click here for more details).

Studies/Iona Institute lecture: 'The place of religion within the European Union'

On Monday, November 16 2009, at 8pm, former Taoiseach and current representative of the European Union in Washington, John Bruton, will deliver a talk called ‘The place of religion within the European Union’.

It will be held in the Alexander Hotel (behind the Davenport hotel). If you are interested in coming please email info@ionainstitute.ie Admission is free.

Conference: The benefits of religious practice

On Friday, April 3, 2009, The Iona Institute is hosting a half-day conference on religious practice and its benefits at the Davenport Hotel, Dublin 2.

To download details of the conference, please click here.

Europe: What concerns religious voters

On Tuesday, November 11, David Fieldsend, a lobbyist in Brussels from the Christian organisation, Care for Europe, addressed a meeting organised by The Iona Institute on the topic, ‘Europe: What concerns religious voters’. Responses to David were given by Minister Conor Lenihan and Lucinda Creighton, Fine Gael spokeperson for Europe.

To read David’s talk click here.

Talk: Is religion dangerous?

On Thursday, October 2, Professor Keith Ward addressed the topic 'Is religion dangerous?' at an event hosted by the Jesuit quarterly, Studies, and The Iona Institute which took place at the Davenport Hotel.

To read more click here.

The rights of donor-conceived persons

On Tuesday, June 3, we organised a mini-seminar on the rights of donor-conceived persons, that is, persons conceived through sperm and/or egg donation in fertility clinics.

To read more and download talks, click here.

Conference: In defence of denominational schools

On Friday, April 4, 2008, The Iona Institute and The Word magazine jointly hosted a conference on denominational schools at the Tara Towers hotel, Booterstown, Dublin.

To read more and to download talks, click here.

Talk: Is Man an accident of evolution? 

On Thursday, February 21, Professor Simon Conway Morris of the Department of Earth Science, Cambridge, gave a talk on the subject of evolution and its implications hosted by the Jesuit quarterly, Studies, and The Iona Institute.

Professor Conway Morris was also interviewed on Today with Pat Kenny. His interview can be heard here 90 minutes into the programme.

Talk: How redefining marriage defines parenthood

On Wednesday January 30 The Iona Institute hosted a talk on the implications of assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF, and the phenomenon of same-sex parenting, for society’s overall view of parenthood. In particular the talk dealt with how these phenomena are making it more difficult for society to assert that children have a right to a mother and father, or even need a mother and father.

The speaker was Elizabeth Marquardt who is the author of a recent paper called ‘The Revolution in Parenthood:  the emerging clash between adult rights and children’s rights’.

Elizabeth’s talk can be downloaded here.

© 2007 IONA Institute | | All Rights Reserved | | Charity No: 17347