FOREWORD BYTHE IRISH TAOISEACH

REGINAO’CONNOR

FREESAMPLECHAPTERS

THE REASONS WHY

Regina O’Connor was born in Ballincollig and grew up in Banteer,County Cork. Regina is a qualiﬁed Irish solicitor who has worked for thelast ﬁve years as a legal and political advisor to the Fianna Fáil MEPsand is currently advisor to the ALDE Group, the third largest PoliticalGroup in the Parliament. Uniquely she has worked in all three parts of the European Union: the European Commission, the Council and theEuropean Parliament.During her career, she has undertaken pro bono cases in human rightsand is a graduate of Masters in European Politics in the prestigiousCollege of Europe, Bruges. Regina was chosen by the British Councilto represent Ireland as a participant of the TransAtlantic 2020 YoungLeader Network, a Network of 100 young leaders chosen from NorthAmerica and Europe in July 2008. She is now part of the Yes to LisbonTreaty Campaign as legal and political advisor to Pat Cox, ‘Ireland forEurope’. Her forthcoming book ‘The Reasons Why’ - European Unionwill be available in the coming weeks.

THE REASONS WHY

IRELAND AT THE HEART OF EUROPEREGINA O’ CONNOR

Visit Regina O’Connor websites at:

www.europeanunion-thereasonswhy.comwww.europeanunion-thereasonswhy.blog.com

First published in Ireland in 2009Copyright © 2009 by Regina O’ConnorBookcover design by Peter Firth, 207design.co.ukPhoto by Michael De Lausnay, Brussels.This e-book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise,be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent inany form other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition includingthis condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchases.