SPEAKER: JOHN BRUTON

John Bruton is on the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Mr Bruton is a former Prime Minister of Ireland and a former President of the European Council.

As Prime Minister, he presided over the Irish Presidency of the European Union, during which time his Government held the Chair of all E.U. Ministerial meetings.

At the Dublin E.U. Summit, he helped finalise the Growth and Stability Pact which governs the management of the single European Currency - the Euro.

During this period he also represented the European Union as President of the Council at Summit meetings with the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of Japan, the Prime Minister of Korea, the Prime Minister of China, the Prime Minister of Israel and Chairman Arafat of the Palestinian Authority.

John Bruton was elected Taoiseach, (Prime Minister) of Ireland in December 1994. As Prime Minister, he was responsible for the introduction of the Corporate Tax policy which underlies Ireland's current economic success. He also was deeply involved in the Irish peace process.

He helped develop the Strategic Management Initiative for public sector reform in Ireland. He was previously Minister for Finance. In this capacity, he was responsible for the reform of the tax collection system in Ireland, introducing "self-assessment" which has greatly improved tax compliance and reduced business costs.

In February 2002 John Bruton was elected to the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe. The goal of the Convention is to boost efficiency, transparency and democracy in Europe and to address the question of integrating thirteen further economies in the European Union.

Mr Bruton's other interests include being elected Vice-President of the European People's Party (1999 to date); Vice-President of the Christian Democrat International (1998 to date); Member of Dail Eireann for Meath (1969 to date) and Member of the Council of State (1994 to date).

John Bruton has played a key role both in the development of the Euro and in the success of the Irish economy. He is now playing a crucial role in the expansion of Europe. Mr Bruton speaks with great authority on future trends both in Europe and throughout the world.