Honoree: Catherine Day
Catherine Day, outgoing Secretary General of the European Commission, was awarded the Garret FitzGerald Gold Medal for International Relations on 10 December. Created in memory of Dr. Garret FitzGerald, who was the first President of the Institute and a former Taoiseach and Foreign Minister, the medal is conferred on those who throughout their lives demonstrated exemplary commitment to the public good and provided inspirational leadership in European and international cooperation and other areas. For a full account of the citation read here.
The medal was conferred by the Chairman of the Institute, Brendan Halligan, whose address can be read here. He said Catherine Day’s career at the highest level of the European Commission was an inspiration to all those in public service, particularly to young women who wished to follow in her footsteps. For a resumé of Catherine Day’s career please read here.
The conferring took place at a special dinner in Europe House attended by leading political and civil society figures, key foundation members, members of the Institute’s Board, Council and staff.
