News archive

Congratulations to Sahara Nankan on a successful PhD Viva. Sahara is an Irish Research Council PhD Scholarship Awardee (2019-22) and NUI Galway Hardiman Scholar (2018-2019). Thesis: The Role of Gender-Responsive Participation in Water and Sanitation Rights Adjudication External Examiner: Professor Beth Goldblatt (UT Sydney) Internal Examiner: Dr Anna Arstein-Kerslake Chair: Professor Ray Murphy Supervisor: Professor Siobhán Mullally

“The Global Crisis of Constitutional Democracy” Date: 8th – 11th June  Location: In Person at NUI Galway (Saturday's seminar will be held on Zoom) If you would like to attend please email: ioanna.tourkochoriti@nuigalway.ie Schedule Wednesday, June 8: Democracy in Crisis? Antecedents and Social Preconditions 9:00-10-20: Mark A. Graber, “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Forgotten Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution” 10:30-11:50: Peter Danchin, “Navigating the Backlash Against Global Law and Institutions” 1:30-3:00: Class discussing of Graber and Danchin Thursday, June 9: The Political Theories of Free Speech: Two Models of Freedom 9:00-10:20: Ioanna Tourkochoriti, Freedom of Expression: The Revolutionary Roots of American and French Legal Thought (Cambridge University Press, 2022) (30 minute presentation, hour discussion) 10:30-11:50: Discussion of Tourkochoriti, Freedom of Expression Friday, June 10: Constitutionalism or Constitutional Democracy? Intellectual History and Implications 9:00-10:20: Martin Loughlin, Against Constitutionalism (Harvard University Press, 2022)(30 minute presentation, hour discussion) 10:30-11:50: Discussion of Loughlin Saturday, June 11: Academic Freedom in Contemporary Constitutional Democracies 8:00-9:20: Adrienne Stone, Open Minds, Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech in Australia (LaTrobe University Press, 2021), via zoom (30 minute presentation, hour discussion) 9:30-10:50: Discussion of Stone, TBA 1:30-3:00: Wrap-up Discussion led by Professors Tourkochoriti, Danchin, and Graber

NUI Galway School of Law has recently become a member of the Law Schools Global League and is the first institution in the Republic of Ireland to become a member of the League, which consists of leading law schools from all over the world. As a member of the League, the School will have the opportunity to collaborate with other law schools with an interest in global, transnational, and international legal education. The School’s membership will provide exciting opportunities for both its staff and students. Staff will have the opportunity to engage and collaborate with a number of research groups including Anti-Corruption, Human Rights and New Technologies & Law, to name a few. The School’s students will have the opportunity to participate in the League’s fortnight long Summer School which is being held this year in July in São Paolo and Rio. This year the Summer School’s theme will be “Technology, Innovation & Law: the Impact on Legal Education and Legal Services”. About LSGLThe LSGL seeks to stimulate academic debate as well as cooperation in both education and research concerning the globalization of law. Serving as a platform for sharing knowledge, the LSGL aspires to contribute to the debate on the globalization of law and its implications on legal education, research and practice. The LSGL brings together law schools that share a commitment not only to the globalization of law, but also to integrating global law in their teaching and research. Every year, the League organizes a number of activities, including conferences and a summer school centered on the theme of law and globalization, besides setting up joint-research and joint-teaching activities. Find out more about the Law Schools Global League

Congratulations to the two groups of final year students in our Legal German module who were shortlisted for the CIGS (Centre for Irish-German Studies) Video Competition, supported by the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce. The two student groups consisted of: Katie Feerick, Leoni Leonard, Ciara Long and Victoria Osikoya who produced a video on Friedrich Engels and Mary Burns. Lorna McGrath, Adam Page and Dora Papp who produced a video on Arnacrusha. The winning group videos were announced at a virtual public event on the 21st March which was attended by the German Ambassador to Ireland H.E. Cord Meier-Klodt and the Irish Ambassador to Germany H.E. Dr. Nicholas O' Brien. The student groups shortlisted were interviewed by Derek Scally, German Correspondent for the Irish Times and the winners were decided by a public vote. We are delighted to announce that one of our student groups which included Katie Feerick, Leoni Leonard, Ciara Long and Victoria Osikoya came third for their video on Friedrich Engels and Mary Burns.

Housing – or the challenges in accessing affordable housing, is emerging as a key issue for the European Union. As part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, NUI Galway hosted a Housing Event in December 2021, supported by the European Movement Ireland and The Housing Agency. The Event was opened by the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD. Expert speakers from a number of EU-wide organisations involved in housing provision, financial regulation, policy-making, advocacy, research, homelessness, and housing and disability rights across Member States, with clear proposals on housing in the future EU context. The absence of any gender equality objectives in housing policy-making at either Member State or EU level emerged as a key issue. The Report points to the urgent need for housing to be a central part of the debate on the Future of Europe. Addressing EU citizens’ access to secure and affordable housing in the Future of Europe requires commitments and actions from national, regional and local governments and organisations, as well as European Union institutions.  The Report of the Event, which includes a summary of the presentation, together with other Reports, and the Concept Paper for the Event, is now available on the website of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway.  Watch the Event Video CoFoE Housing Event Part 1 CoFoE Housing Event Part 2 CoFoE Housing Event Part 3 We hope that this Report and the accompanying Video of the Event will contribute to the healthy debate within the European Union, about how to organise our housing systems, for the benefit of all. Professor Padraic Kenna. 10th February 2022

NUI Galway School of Law is delighted to see its graduate Stephen O’Flaherty named in The Lawyer Hot 100 for 2022. This is one of the highest accolades awarded to lawyers in England who are chosen for their excellence in diverse areas of legal practice. Stephen shares the honour this year with other top solicitors and barristers including Baroness Helena Kennedy QC. Stephen graduated from NUI Galway with a BA degree in 2003 and a LLB (Bachelor of Laws) in 2008. Having qualified as a solicitor in England in 2012, he joined Lewis Silkin, a leading London law firm which is noted for expertise in employment, entertainment, sports and immigration law, among other areas. The firm also has offices in Dublin and Belfast. Stephen, who is Managing Associate at Lewis Silkin, was named as one of the top 100 lawyers because of his work in building up the firm’s sports immigration practice. He previously received glowing commendations in Legal 500 as an outstanding sports and immigration lawyer. Over the years, he has advised many elite sports clubs and athletes, and football clubs in particular. He is noted for having managed the immigration aspects of transfers for 15 clubs from the top three tiers of English professional football, including 11 from the Premier League and 4 from the Women’s Super League, during the past year. He has also been advising on the use of GBE scoring technology to help streamline international player recruitment for football clubs, providing an important solution for clubs in the wake of Brexit.  We extend our warmest congratulations to Stephen and wish him continuing success.

Congratulations to Eric Ehigie, 3rd year Law and Business Student who contributed to the book The Liminal: Notes on Life, Race, and Direct Provision in Ireland. Eric's compelling chapter in the book discusses “The Problem With Our National Conversation About Racism”. The book challenges all who read it to reassess privileges and socially ingrained biases that have allowed institutionalisation to repeatedly happen in Ireland. It includes testimonies from asylum seekers, as well as essays from advocates and activists from a broad range of backgrounds in social justice, journalism and healthcare.  Eric, said: “I’m deeply honoured to have been one of the contributors to The Liminal: Notes on Life, Race, and Direct Provision in Ireland, composed by the remarkably diligent and inspiring Fiadh Melina. As conversations about race, diversity, and the under-acknowledged experiences of many within our country rise to the forefront of our nation’s consciousness, this book is timely and ever-pertinent.” Eric is a Politics Coordinator at Black and Irish, a YouTube Content-Creator on global, political and social issues, and a Youth Engagement Officer at the Longford Africans Network. Find out more about the book

“In order to improve inclusion, we first had to understand the barriers to inclusion and participation.” - Inclusive Learning at NUI Galway Researchers at NUI Galway have revealed the lived experience of postgraduate students before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the vast majority of students surveyed prior to the pandemic found their learning environment at the University inclusive, the proportion dropped during the pandemic. The report was completed by members of the Inclusive Learning at NUI Galway project, Dr Shivaun Quinlivan, Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley and Dr Dinali Wijeratne and set out to enhance inclusive teaching and learning practice at the University for postgraduate students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds. Welcoming the report, President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “I am delighted at the launch of this report on inclusive learning at NUI Galway. We have committed in our University Strategy: Shared Vision: Shaped by Values to ensuring that our research informs attitudes and policies about diversity and disadvantage, to raising awareness, and ultimately to removing barriers to equality and diversity within our University and for the public good. This report speaks directly to these values and, most importantly, it places the student voice at the centre.” More than 100 students took part in the first survey in March 2020 and again, in December 2020, more than 100 students took part. The surveys do not claim to be representative or statistically significant but provide a snapshot of the perceptions of a range of students at a particular time. Key findings from the report: 85% of students surveyed prior to the pandemic said they found their learning environment at NUI Galway inclusive. However, 6% of students did not find it inclusive. 66% of students surveyed during the pandemic found their learning experience to be inclusive, while 13% did not find it inclusive. Students generally found teaching arrangements pre-Covid to be inclusive. In many cases, staff were praised for their commitment and support, and students emphasised that staff were approachable and helpful. 67% of students said the pandemic had made their learning environment less inclusive, with more female students than male students reporting this. Just 9% of students surveyed pre-Covid saw other students as non-inclusive, while 2% saw teaching staff as non-inclusive. Some students found remote learning moreinclusive, e.g. some students with disabilities (though by no means all) found their courses more accessible when teaching went virtual. Students with disabilities raised a range of issues regarding accessibility, including issues relating to physical infrastructure and learning materials. However, they also identified significant positive supports in their learning environment, particularly from the University’s Disability Support Service. The research also found that the lack of suitable and affordable childcare was a major barrier to learning for many postgraduate students who were parents. This had a significant practical and emotional impact. Many students experienced significant difficulties in securing appropriate and affordable accommodation. Often this was due to general difficulties with the rental market, but the difficulties were particularly acute for international students, particularly those with children. Students reported a range of attitudinal barriers which impacted their learning environment. These arose largely from negative stereotypes and unfavourable attitudes linked to factors such as gender, race, sexual orientation and disability. The issue of postgraduate research students doing unpaid work was also identified in the research and the report acknowledges the University is developing a policy on pay related to this. Dr Quinlivan, joint lead of the project and co-author of the report, said: “In order to improve inclusion, we first have to understand the barriers to inclusion and participation experienced by postgraduate students at NUI Galway.” Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley, joint project lead and report co-author, said: “We felt it was really important to engage with our students, and hear their voice - this will enable us to take steps to address the issues they face. We hope the lasting legacy of this research will be to improve the learning experience for all our students.” The report makes a range of recommendations to the university. These include the development of an anti-racism policy and a reasonable accommodation policy for students with disabilities, the provision of training, and the gathering and monitoring of student diversity data. Cameron Keighron, student partner on the project and former Student’s Union Education Officer at NUI Galway, said: “It's wonderful to see the final report looking at the experiences of postgraduate students in NUI Galway. This is a group that is often left without a voice, and this work is allowing their lived experience to influence positive change within our campus. “We must listen to what systems, policies and attitudes on our campus have led to exclusion or discrimination and put steps in place to change this, with this report giving us a great set of recommendations to begin this journey.” The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education funded the report. Read the Report

Housing and the Future of Europe  Professor Padraic Kenna - NUI Galway   Housing – or the challenges facing young people in accessing affordable housing, is emerging as one of the key issues for the European Union. While the great majority of Europeans live in good quality, affordable housing as a result of major State and private investment since the 1950s, the picture for young Europeans is not so rosy.  Housing as a European Issue  The majority of people aged 18-34 across the EU still live with their parents, largely because they cannot afford to rent or buy. While there are major differences in the housing situation in every Member State, all prosperous European cities face similar challenges, especially those with population growth and inward migration.  The lack of affordable housing particularly impacts on poor and socially excluded people, such as LGBTQI+ young people, lone parents and migrants. Almost 10% of the EU-27 population (and 35% of those who are poor) live in households that spend 40% or more of their disposable income on housing. Homelessness has risen across Europe, although this year, the European institutions, Member State governments and civil society have committed to combatting homelessness under the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, with a target set for ending homelessness by 2030.   More and more Europeans are looking to the EU to tackle the challenges of our times in such areas as climate change and environmental protection, economic stability, digitalisation of society, data protection, the sharing economy, responsible lending, good jobs, improved quality of life, recognition of diversity, fundamental rights and social inclusion.   Could the EU do more in the field of housing?   It is important to remember that the EU has no direct competences/powers in housing as such – it is unlikely to ever build, sell or rent homes. For example, in relation to owner-occupation or housing as property, Article 345 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU states that “This Treaty shall in no way prejudice the rules in Member States governing the system of property ownership.” Of course, Member State constitutional and legal provisions on the regulation of use of property in the public interest are mirrored in the Treaties. But housing is also about more than property, and despite all the differences between national housing systems, there are many common issues facing all Europeans. Some of these are relevant for, and overlap with, EU policies, which have already been approved by Member States.  In many areas which relate to housing, Member States have agreed to share their competences/powers, such as in supervision of mortgage lenders, setting of euro-area interest rates, consumer protection and fundamental rights, and in non-discrimination on gender or other grounds.   The European Commission, through the European Semester, and referring to the European Pillar of Social Rights, provides Member States with policy support, guidance and orientation on how to design efficient national policies aimed at ensuring citizens’ access to affordable, secure and accessible social housing. The European Commission assists Member States to deal with housing supply shortage, dysfunctional housing markets, macroeconomic imbalances and insufficient stock of social housing.[1]  Many issues which affect access to, and enjoyment of, housing rights are impacted by the unique architecture of the Economic and Monetary Union. These include the rules on social and affordable housing as a Service of General Economic Interest, and the rules on Member State budget deficits and borrowing levels for investment. Of course, these rules do not in any way prevent Member States from acting to address national housing system deficits. There are proposals to separate investment in social and affordable housing from the rules on general government debt, avoiding State budget deficits.  The European Commission, European Parliament and European Central Bank support measures which limit excessive house price increases, and have also recommended increased investment of all forms of social and affordable housing to promote wider access to adequate, secure and affordable housing for Europeans. Indeed, EU institutions are beginning to recognise the need for choice, stability and balance in housing systems across Europe. In 2021, the European Parliament Report on ‘access to decent and affordable housing for all’ called for adequate, energy-efficient and healthy housing for all Europeans, and major investment in social, public, affordable and energy-efficient housing.  The EU Green Deal is especially significant for housing investment across Europe. The decarbonisation of the EU economy by 2050 is a common objective in the fight against climate change, and the energy used for heating and cooling buildings is one of its main causes. Through the Green Deal, the European Union set itself the goal of making buildings and housing more energy-efficient.   The European Single Market and social market economy of the EU also impact on housing on many levels. But, of course, access to adequate housing is essential for the full participation of every EU citizen in society.  Looking to the Future  All of these issues were up for discussion at the Conference on the Future of Europe Event on Housing, hosted by NUI Galway on 9th December 2021, in association with European Movement Ireland and The Housing Agency. This EU initiative seeks to open a space for debate to address Europe’s challenges and priorities, and it is important that housing is treated as one of the important issues for Europe’s young (and not so young) citizens.   One of the key questions addressed by presenters and participants at the NUI Galway Event was “what your ideal Europe would look like in the next 10-20 years”. Of course, this lead to many other questions. Will everyone in Europe be able to access decent and affordable housing? How much will we pay for our homes? Will our housing systems contribute to climate change, or will we have sustainable and energy efficient homes? Will our communities be inclusive of all? Will our housing policies reflect gender equality? Will we have segregation based on income, identity, disability, nationality or connectivity? Will our students and young people be able to access good quality affordable housing if they chose to study or work in another Member State? Will the EU help us ensure that no-one is homeless due to lack of housing? Will our housing systems be defined by boom-bust cycles and unpredictable mortgage interest rates for aspiring home-owners? Will the EU support a minimum standard of housing in line with human dignity for all? Will the human right to home take priority in housing-related policymaking, or will it be something else? What does the commitment in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights “to ensure a decent existence for all those who lack sufficient resources” really mean? How does the European Pillar of Social Rights actually inform EU policies?   Of course, we found that the answers to these questions involve national, regional and local actors and organisations, as well as European Union institutions. We also agreed that it is really time to include housing as part of the Europe-wide debate on the Future of Europe. We will develop and share better solutions, working together as Europeans.  I wish to sincerely thank all those who presented to this Event, as well as the moderators Cllr Alison Gilliland, Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Bob Jordan, CEO of the Housing Agency (sponsors of the Event). Special thanks to colleagues Professor Martin Hogg and Professor Geraint Howells, and Researchers Áine Dillon and David Martin, with Cormac Staunton of Staunton Media. The sponsorship and assistance of Stephen O’ Shea and Noelle O’ Connell of the European Movement Ireland was invaluable.  We hope that this Report and the accompanying video of the Event available on the CHLRP website. Will contribute to the ongoing debate within the European Union about how organise our housing systems for benefit of all.  Professor Padraic Kenna. 1st February 2022.  Link to the Report on the Conference on the Future of Europe Housing Event   Link to the Full Video on the Conference on the Future of Europe Housing Event       [1] EU funding for housing projects is available through the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Fund, InvestEU, ESF+, Horizon Europe, Next Generation EU, Recovery and Resilience Facility, Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). The European Investment Bank provides low interest long term loans for social and affordable housing.         [1] EU funding for housing projects is available through the European Regional Development Fund, the Just Transition Fund, InvestEU, ESF+, Horizon Europe, Next Generation EU, Recovery and Resilience Facility, Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). The European Investment Bank provides low interest long term loans for social and affordable housing.

Dr Charles O’Mahony (Lecturer in Law) and Dr Fiona Morrissey (Adjunct Lecturer in Law) have published a Report for the Non-Governmental Organisation Mental Health Reform.  The Report is titled “A Human Rights Analysis of the Draft Heads of a Bill to Amend the Mental Health Act 2001”.  In the Report Dr O’Mahony and Dr Morrissey provide legal analysis on the recently published Heads of Bill, which proposes significant changes to the 2001 Act.  Based on their analysis of the Heads of Bill, the authors make several recommendations, which are aimed at strengthening respect for the human rights of persons subject to the legislation.   The Report sets out comprehensively the relevant regional and international human rights law and they used this body of law as a framework for analysing the Heads of Bill.   Their Report addresses several key areas, which include: Part 8 on Children, the new guiding principles,  the definition of “mental disorder”,  the voluntary category, the intermediate category, the involuntary category, and allied issues.   A number of other key provisions will be examined such as ending the use of coercion,  The need for independent advocacy and the complaints mechanism for persons under the 2001 Act.    The Report is available here https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/campaigns/reform-the-mental-health-act/

Cassie Roddy-Mullineaux, from Rosscahill, Co Galway, graduated with a BA and Bachelor of Laws (LLB), placing first in her year, before graduating with a first class honours LLM in International Human Rights in 2020. The Law Student of the Year award recognises and celebrates the academic legal achievements and other overall achievements of a student studying law in a third level college or university. Ms Roddy-Mullineaux was awarded the accolade in recognition of her outstanding achievements while studying at NUI Galway’s School of Law and the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR). She said: “I am over the moon to have won the award for Law Student of the Year at the Irish Law Awards 2021. Completing the LLM in International Human Rights completely changed my outlook on legal practice and how I wanted to contribute as a lawyer. I'm extremely grateful to the Irish Centre for Human Rights and NUI Galway School of Law for the generous support of the staff and community who afforded me so many opportunities during the LLM and have truly helped to shape my legal career.” Professor Martin Hogg, Head of NUI Galway’s School of Law, said: “This award is incredibly well deserved and the Law School is delighted for Cassie. Cassie was an outstanding member of our LLM in International Human Rights class, not only distinguishing herself in her studies and research but making impactful contributions in a range of projects on which she worked with her classmates, our staff, and NGOs. We hope that her achievements will inspire current and future students to aim as high as she has.” Since graduating, Ms Roddy-Mullineaux has been working as a lawyer with AWO, a new data rights agency, at the intersection of data rights and human rights. She advises clients on a wide range of data and privacy issues. In collaboration with Article Eight Advocacy, Ms Roddy-Mullineaux continued to work with the new cohort of students in the Human Rights Law Clinic at the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights throughout 2020-2021 on the Mother and Baby data protection hub, an online resource to help survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes request their personal data from the bodies that hold it. Interim Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Professor Ray Murphy, said: “Cassie embodies the perfect mix of academic scholarship and human rights activism. We are delighted with the richly deserved recognition this prestigious award gives her.” Ms Roddy-Mullineaux was involved in a number of projects during her studies at NUI Galway, including: Being part of the ICHR representative team at Ireland’s United Nation's CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) review in Dec 2019. She spoke to the CERD Committee in Geneva on Ireland’s climate racism. She also contributed to and helped compile the ICHR’s shadow report. Being part of the ICHR’s Human Rights Law Clinic, directed by Dr Maeve O’Rourke, she worked on the My Data Rights project, an online resource to help survivors of historical and institutional abuses in Ireland use GDPR to access their personal data. Working with environmental group, Safety Before LNG, she co-wrote a legal opinion on the compatibility of a legal ban on fracked gas imports with EU and WTO trade laws. Completing a legal research placement with the Global Legal Action Network working on business-related human rights abuses. Assisting NUI Galway’s Dr Padraic Kenna with researching European Convention on Human Rights arguments relating to the Case of the Century (climate litigation) in France.

Our research seminar series will feature papers on a range of legal and socio-legal topics from colleagues and guest speakers. Sessions will take place on Tuesdays at 2pm and remotely via MS Teams (unless announced otherwise).  All are welcome to attend – please email eoin.daly@nuigalway.ie for meeting links. October 26 Dr. Ioanna Tourkochoriti "The Ashers Bakery Case and the Compelled Speech Argument" November 9 Dr. Maureen O’Sullivan "Vegetarianism in the courts - a multiplicity of circumstances (and what to do about it)" November 16 Ursula Connolly "Conceptualising bullying actions in Ireland – now you see it, now you don’t" December 7 Dr. Rónán Kennedy "Algorithms, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Irish Legal Services Market" December 15 Prof. Dave Cowan (University of Bristol) "Governing the pandemic: A case study" February 1 Dr. Edel Hughes "Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Invisibility on Conflict-Related Male Sex Violence in Syria" February 15 Dr. Anna Arstein-Kerslake "Right to Legal Capacity and Minority Groups: Applying Article 12 of the CRPD beyond disability" March 1 Dr. Diarmuid Griffin "Sentencing serious sex offenders: How judges decide when discretion is wide" March 8 Dr. Roisin Mulgrew "Defining Death in Prisons" April 12 Prof. Charles Ngwena (University of Pretoria) "African 'transgender' human rights: emerging jurisprudence" April 19 Prof. Shreya Atrey (University of Oxford) "Exponential Inequalities: What can equality law do?"

Terence O’Malley on campus visit to meet inaugural scholars The Chairman Emeritus of global law firm DLA Piper has heralded the impact of a special new scholarship set up in partnership with the School of Law at NUI Galway. The Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship provides funding and support to enable and empower successful students to study a law degree at NUI Galway. Terence O’Malley, who has family roots in the west of Ireland, was welcomed to the campus by Professor Geraint Howells, Executive Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law. He also met the inaugural scholars, Bachelor of Civil Law students Ava Cullinan, from Kilrush, Co Clare and Emily Donnellan, from Maree, Co Galway. Terry O’Malley said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit the NUI Galway campus and meet the first scholars. It is very gratifying to hear about the impact of the awards as well as having the opportunity to visit the School of Law and learn about the education and learning on offer.” Professor Howells said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Terence O’Malley to NUI Galway and thank him in person for DLA Piper’s generous support of NUI Galway students. Partnership with Irish and global law firms are key to ensuring that we can attract and retain a diverse student group who will go on to make an impact and contribution in their fields.” The Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship launched in 2020 at NUI Galway following Mr O’Malley’s retirement from a highly-regarded legal career, serving in various roles including as DLA Piper's US Managing Partner, US Co-Chairman, and Global Co-Chief executive officer. In addition to the scholarship provides funding and support to successful students over the course of their law degree, a separate annual bursary is also awarded to the student who achieves the highest grade in the University’s new Law and Innovation module. Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholar Ava Cullinan said: “Having received this scholarship, the financial burden I carry throughout my journey to become a solicitor has greatly lessened. I believe that a disadvantaged background should not hinder me from accessing my full potential, and it is in this regard that I cannot understate the importance and impact of the scholarship on both my personal and professional aspirations.” Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholar Emily Donnellan said: “The scholarship has afforded me relief and a greater sense of security while pursuing my studies so far. I hope to represent and advocate for people in the justice system. I enjoy working with and helping others and I would hope to make a positive contribution to society through a career in Law. I am grateful for the opportunity and the sense of relief the scholarship has provided me with while I pursue my studies, having allowed me to focus and prioritise studying for my course." DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. DLA Piper established in Ireland in 2019 with offices in Dublin.  DLA Piper clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies. Applications details for the 2021 Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship will be announced in October. For further details visit www.nuigalway.ie/dlapiperscholarship. Ends

NUI Galway has announced the new Head of the School of Law – Professor Martin Hogg. Professor Hogg will take up the new role in November, having joined from the University of Edinburgh, where he served as Head of School and Dean of Law. Professor Geraint Howells, Executive Dean for the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at NUI Galway, said: "We are delighted to have Martin joining us. He is a leading contract law scholar and an experienced leader. “Our Law School has an outstanding reputation for its teaching and scholarship. Martin is an ideal person to help us build on our strengths and develop new initiatives to meet the needs of our community." Professor Hogg said: “I’m honoured and very happy to be joining NUI Galway’s Law School as Head of School and Established Professor in November. “The Law School is an inspiring centre of learning and research, whose students and staff are widely known for their commitment to justice and the rule of law. I’m looking forward to meeting as many of them as I can in the coming months, as well as alumni and practitioner communities. “The whole NUI Galway community has already extended to me the warmest of Galway welcomes, for which I am very grateful.” Professor Hogg’s research interests lie in all aspects of the law of obligations, including comparative obligations theory, contract and promise, and fundamental structural language in the law of obligations. He has published widely in this field, including Promises and Contract Law and Obligations: Law and Language with Cambridge University Press. He is the Scottish Reporter for the European Tort Law Yearbook. Professor Hogg spent two years qualifying as a Solicitor with Dundas & Wilson CS in Edinburgh, before being appointed Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Edinburgh in 1995. He was appointed Senior Lecturer in 2004 and in 2013 he was appointed to a Chair in the Law of Obligations. Professor Hogg is a (non-practising) member of the Faculty of Advocates (the Scottish Bar). Professor Hogg brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously held office as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director of Teaching, Deputy Director of Research, and Convener of the Board of Studies. He took office as Deputy Head of the Law School in Edinburgh in 2014, and became Head of School and Dean of Law in 2017. Professor Shane Darcy, Interim Head of the School of Law, said: “On behalf of my colleagues at the School of Law, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Professor Hogg. We are very excited to have him join us as Head of the School of Law and very much look forward to working with him in this role at NUI Galway.” NUI Galway’s School of Law delivers innovative legal education in a dynamic school dedicated to impactful, high quality legal research. It hosts the internationally renowned Irish Centre for Human Rights and the Centre for Disability Law & Policy. The School has introduced several new programmes in recent years, including the undergraduate degrees Law (BCL), Criminology and Criminal Justice and Law (BCL) and Human Rights. It also offers a suite of postgraduate LLM programmes and is home to a vibrant doctoral community. Further information www.nuigalway.ie/law

Online Seminar Friday 22 October 2021   10.00 am – 5.00 pm  Irish Council for Civil LibertiesWhitaker Institute and School of Law,National University of Ireland GalwaySchool of Law, University of Limerick Funded by the Irish Research Council ‌   9.30 Login 10.00 KeynoteThe Hon Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Chief Justice of Ireland – Title TBC 10.15 Session 1 – Judicial Conduct and Ethics in Ireland: The Context Chair: Dr Rónán Kennedy Doireann Ansbro, ICCL: International Standards on Judicial Conduct and Ethics Ray Byrne, Adjunct Full Professor, UCD: The Bangalore Principles and the Judicial Council Act 2019 Dr Laura Cahillane, UL: Analysing the New Judicial Conduct Framework 11.30 Break 11.45 Session 2 – Judicial Conduct and Ethics in Comparative Perspective Chair: Ray Byrne Dr Sophie Turenne, University of Cambridge: Judicial Conduct, Complaints and Discipline in England and Wales: Key Features and Issues Prof Daniela Cavallini, University of Bologna: The Italian Case: The Impact of the 2006 Reform on Transparency and Effectiveness of Disciplinary Action. Current debate Silvio R. Vinceti, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia: How (Not) to Try a Judge. Judicial Discipline in Italy and Ireland 13.15 Lunch 14.15 Session 3 – What is Judicial Misconduct? Chair: The Hon Mr Justice Brian Murray Eunice Collins, University of Oxford: Defining Judicial Misconduct Dr David Fennelly, TCD: Equal Treatment in the Court Process Dr Brian Barry, TUD: The Definition and Nature of Judicial Impartiality 15.15 Break 15.30 Session 4 – Investigating Complaints Chair: Dr Brian Barry  Caoimhe Kiernan, TUD: Who Judges the Judges? A Comparative Analysis of the Composition of the Bodies Responsible for Investigating Complaints against the Judiciary Dr Patrick O’Brien, Oxford Brooks University: Disentangling the Formal and Informal in Judicial Conduct Processes Prof Colin Scott, UCD: Regulating Judicial Conduct Responsively 16.30 Conclusions, Final Discussion, and Next Steps 17.00 Close Registration is now open for this event – please sign up at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkceygqDMpG9doCTra3P9L4oxvY5zFgn3g Enquiries to: ronan.m.kennedy@nuigalway.ie or to Rónán Kennedy (Law School, National University of Ireland Galway) at +353-91-495626. Funded by the Irish Research Council.

European and International Perspectives Online Seminar Friday 17 September 2021   10.00 am – 5.00 pm  Irish Council for Civil LibertiesWhitaker Institute and School of Law,National University of Ireland GalwaySchool of Law, University of Limerick Funded by the Irish Research Council ‌ 9.30 Login 10.00 Session 1 – Judicial Education and Training in Ireland Chair: Dr Laura Cahillane, UL Doireann Ansbro, ICCL: International Standards in Judicial Education and Training Prof Paul McCutcheon, UL: Review of Judicial Studies Institute 2003 Dr Rónán Kennedy, NUI Galway: Review of Judicial Studies Committee 2019 The Hon Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, High Court of Ireland: Judicial Education and Training in Ireland – A Judge’s View 11.30 Break 11.45 Session 2 – Judicial Skills and Judgecraft Chair: Her Honour Judge Rosemary Horgan, Circuit Court of Ireland Prof Cheryl Thomas, UCL: Judicial Training in the UK Mr Justice Gerard Tangenberg, SSR: The Place of Skills in Judicial Education Ms Justice Adèle Kent, National Judicial Institute of Canada: Teaching Judicial Skills 13.15 Lunch 14.15 Session 3 – Developing Judicial Skills in Ireland Chair: Dr Rónán Kennedy, NUI Galway Dr Niamh Howlin & Dr Mark Coen, UCD: Skills Acquisition and Development among Judges of the Circuit Criminal and Central Criminal Courts Dr Rachel Cahill-O'Callaghan, Cardiff University: Values and Bias: Refining Decision Making Through Education Dr Jennifer Schweppe and Prof Amanda Haynes, UL: “It takes the gleam off the harp”: The Need for Training to Address Judicial Prejudice  15.15 Break 15.30 Session 4 – Trauma-Informed Judging Chair: Dr Rachel Cahill-O'Callaghan, Cardiff University  Dr Jane Mulcahy, UL: Towards a Neurodevelopmentally Aware, Trauma-Responsive Judiciary in Ireland Saoirse Enright, UL: Judging the Judges: Adopting a Trauma-Responsive Approach to Judicial Decision-Making Mr Tom O’Malley, NUI Galway: The Role of Intermediaries in the Investigation and Trial of Sexual Offences 16.30 Conclusions, Final Discussion, and Next Steps 17.00 Close Registration is now open for this event – please sign up at  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvdeyoqzIvGtKxKbDD_KCPjwLEucn6D7xE Enquiries to: ronan.m.kennedy@nuigalway.ie or to Rónán Kennedy (Law School, National University of Ireland Galway) at +353-91-495626. Funded by the Irish Research Council.

Today sees the publication of Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries: A Campaign for Justice (Bloomsbury 2021), co-authored by Dr Maeve O’Rourke of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway and Claire McGettrick (IRC postgraduate research scholar, UCD), Assoc. Prof. Katherine O’Donnell (School of Philosophy, UCD), Assoc. Prof. James M Smith (English Department, Boston College) and Mari Steed (co-founder, Justice for Magdalenes Research & Adoption Rights Alliance). The authors are members of the voluntary Justice for Magdalenes Research group.  The book is accompanied by an online archive of its sources, available at www.jfmresearch.com/bookarchive/. Publication was supported by the NUI Galway Moore Institute Grant-in-Aid of Publication Fund. All royalties will be donated to Empowering People in Care (EPIC).  The writing of Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries was prompted by survivors’ expression of their desire that the truth of their experiences is told, that the history of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries is taught in schools and colleges, and that what they and the women who are now deceased have suffered is never allowed to happen again.  The book provides a detailed account of life in the Magdalene institutions through the use of survivor testimony and numerous other sources. It chronicles and analyses the strategies of the voluntary ‘Justice for Magdalenes’ campaign which contributed to achieving the State’s apology and establishment of a ‘redress’ scheme in 2013. Extending to the present-day, the book addresses the deep-seated culture and practices within numerous arms of the State that have led to continuing human rights abuses towards survivors and relatives of the deceased. In particular, the book critiques the State’s methods of investigation, its approaches to providing ‘redress’, and its resistance to truth-telling and to the disclosure of records. The book concludes by considering the need for ‘transformative’ reparations, transitional justice, and a new approach to protecting constitutional and human rights as the Irish State enters its second century of independence.  Reviews of Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries: A Campaign for Justice include:   This brave book is an archive of an unfinished movement, a survey of the continuing harms of so-called 'historical abuse', and a set of demands for law reform and political change. In places, it is also a love letter to those who survived Ireland's Magdalene laundries. In devastating detail, it shows how Irish politicians, professionals and members of religious orders have resisted demands that these women be recognised as victims of human rights abuse. More than a description of Justice for Magdalenes' campaigning and research, it is an important challenge to official histories and excuses that stubbornly carry undeserved weight in Irish public discourse.   Máiréad Enright, University of Birmingham  The campaign for justice for the girls and women incarcerated in Magdalene laundries is one of the greatest acts of truth-telling in the recent history of Ireland. The walls of institutional denial have had to be demolished slowly and painfully, brick by brick. The experiences of those most involved in this task, so vividly detailed in this vital book, tell us so much, not just about a history that was shamefully obscured, but about the imperative for every society to really know itself. In helping the survivors to reclaim their dignity, this indispensable book also helps the rest of us to reclaim the true meaning of shared citizenship and common humanity.  Fintan O'Toole, Irish Times Journalist and Orwell Prize winner  It is impossible to describe the toxic fog of shame, distortion and indifference these writers worked through so the truth of the Magdalen Laundries could be seen in a proper light. No one wanted to know. They are my heroes.  Anne Enright, Author and winner of the 2007 Booker Prize 

 Research Assistant – Part Time (.19FTE)Judicial Education and Conduct in Twenty-First Century Ireland School of LawRef. No. NUIG-RES 169-21 ** Download full job advertisment here: Job Advert RES 169 21 ** Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time fixed-term .19FTE position as a Research Assistant with the School of Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This position is funded by the Irish Research Council and is available from 1 September 2021 to contract end date of 30 November 2021.  With funding from the Irish Research Council, and in collaboration with the Trust For Civil Liberties, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Dr Rónán Kennedy of NUI Galway and Dr Laura Cahillane of the University of Limerick will be convening two seminars. The first, to take place in October 2021, will explore judicial conduct arrangements in Ireland. This seminar will examine the system which is established by the 2019 Act to deal with complaints of judicial misconduct. In particular, it will concentrate on the forthcoming guidelines on conduct and ethics and on informal resolution of complaints, the definition of misconduct, the form of reprimands and admonishments, and the interaction between the Council and the Oireachtas on removal motions. It will also compare this to best practice in other jurisdictions to determine whether the reforms introduced by the Oireachtas adequately provide for both accountability and transparency while also protecting the paramount principle of judicial independence.  The second, in November 2021, will rigorously benchmark judicial education and training in Ireland against best practice in other jurisdictions in order to move beyond the challenges of the past and the present. It will focus on the place of skills in judicial education, the role of technology and blended learning, judicial independence, judicial well-being or resilience, and how judicial education should respond to changes in Irish society. It will look at how this can integrate with work underway in Europe and internationally, where a great deal of work is being done to modernise judicial education and training. Following peer review, papers may be published in a special issue of the Irish Judicial Studies Journal. Job Description: The successful candidate will collate and analyse discussion during the two seminars, and develop a literature review for the subsequent report. Duties: Collecting, analysing and documenting information presented at the two seminars Conducting literature and database searches on judicial education and training and judicial conduct and ethics; interpreting and presenting the findings of the literature searches as appropriate for the project report Qualifications/Skills required:  Essential Requirements:  Master’s degree in Law Legal research skills Legal writing skills Report writing skills Project management skills Desirable Requirements:  Experience with peer-reviewed publishing Detailed knowledge of Irish legal system Detailed understanding of legal frameworks governing Irish judiciary Knowledge of literature of judicial education and judicial conduct Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post  Salary: €26,609 to €35,922 per annum pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts  Start date: Position is available from 1 September 2021.  Continuing Professional Development/Training: NUI Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment - see www.nuigalway.ie/rdc for further information. Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie Further information about the School of Law is available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/business-public-policy-law/school-of-law/  Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to: Dr Rónán Kennedy  Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Dr Ronán Kennedy, ronan.m.kennedy@nuigalway.ie Please put reference number NUIG-RES-169-21 in subject line of e-mail application. Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm Friday 3 September 2021 Interviews are planned to be held on Thursday 9 September 2021 We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post. National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer. All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment

Yesterday the Government made a decision to approve the heads of bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001.  Recently Dr Mary Keys, Dr Catriona Moloney, Dr Fiona Morrisey and Dr Charles O’Mahony made a submission to the Department of Health on this draft legislation.  In their submission they discussed how the Mental Health Act 2001 is at odds with Ireland’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).  They argue that a cultural shift is needed to realise the rights in the CRPD, and align with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, and the Mental Health Amendment Act 2018. The submission can be downloaded here: Submission to the Department of Health on the Mental Health Act 2001 Dr Mary Keys is a leading authority on mental health law and policy. She was a lecturer in the School of Law, NUI Galway from 1999 until early retirement in 2014. She was awarded a Ph.D. by the Cardiff University Law School, University of Wales, in 2006 on the topic of human rights and mental health law. Her main research focus is on mental health law and policy. Mary served two terms as a member of the Mental Health Commission, having been appointed as the representative of the public interest. Prior to becoming a full-time member of staff in the School of Law she worked as a psychiatric social worker in the mental health services in Ireland and in the United Kingdom. She was a founding member of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway. Her research explores mental health, regional and international human rights law. Mary chaired a subcommittee of the Mental Health Commission, which prepared its submission on the Review of the Mental Health Act 2001. Mary’s expertise is regularly drawn upon by governmental and non-governmental bodies seeking her advice on complex legal issues in the areas such as mental health law and policy, health law and policy and legal capacity. Mary has played an important role in advocating for the human rights of service users, ex-users, and survivors of psychiatry in Ireland. Dr Catriona Moloney has lectured in Disability Law at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway and at the University of Limerick. Catriona has a Bachelor of Civil Law and an LLM in Public Law. She was awarded her PhD entitled “Empowering Children and Young People: An Access to Justice Assessment of Mental Health Law and Policy” for which she was awarded a School of Law (NUIG) Scholarship to undertake this research. Catriona was a full-time legal researcher for the Law Reform Commission from 2008–2010 where she worked on the Commission’s statue law restatement programme. Catriona was also a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School’s Project on Disability during the summer of 2013. She was appointed to the Board of EPIC (Empowering Young People in Care) in 2014, EPIC advocates at a national and local level for the rights of young people in and with care experience. In April 2018 she was appointed to a panel of Research and Policy Specialists on matters related to children’s rights and welfare at the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. Dr Fiona Morrissey is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Centre for Disability Law & Policy, School of Law at NUI Galway. Dr Morrissey is a Disability Law Research/Training Consultant who has worked with the World Health Organisation on the development and delivery of the QualityRights training and e-learning programme. This UN programme supports countries to develop and implement human rights-based capacity, supported decision-making and mental health laws, policies, and practices in line with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Fiona has extensive knowledge of and expertise in Irish mental health law and has been recently appointed as a Lay Member of the Mental Health Tribunals by the Mental Health Commission. Dr Charles O’Mahony is a lecturer in the School of Law at NUI Galway. He was Head of the School of Law from 2017-2021. He completed a PhD at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway entitled “Diversion: A Comparative Study of Law and Policy Relating to Defendants and Offenders with Mental Health Problems and Intellectual Disability”. Charles was elected as President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers (IALT) from 2014-2016. He previously worked as Amnesty International Ireland’s Legal Officer on its mental health campaign and as a legal researcher for the Law Reform Commission of Ireland.

One funded PhD position is available to work on a doctoral thesis in the area of surrogacy and assisted reproduction. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Dr Brian Tobin, School of Law, NUI Galway.   It is open to the candidate to define the precise scope of their proposed PhD, but it should fit, broadly, within the following parameters:   Irish policy makers are currently struggling with the question of how best to regulate surrogacy arrangements and various complex methods of assisted human reproduction, and there is currently no international consensus regarding the appropriate regulation of these assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). This PhD research will be law reform-oriented in that it will critically engage with surrogacy/ART law reform processes taking place in Ireland, the EU and internationally, but it will also critically analyse the legal and ethical concerns oft-associated with these methods of assisted human reproduction and explore how domestic/international legal regulation that assuages these concerns yet achieves an equitable balance between the legal position of intended parents, surrogates, donors and the surrogate-born or donor-conceived child might best be achieved.   Entry criteria Essential:   A minimum 2:1 Honours (or equivalent grade) UG and/or PG Degree in law or law and another discipline.   Desirable: A 1st Class Honours (or equivalent grade) UG and/or PG Degree in law or law and another discipline.   Candidates will ideally have completed Family Law/ Child and Family Law/ an equivalent course as part of their UG/PG Degree.   Funding: The scholarship is funded for a maximum of 4 years. It will cover full fees for the successful candidate, in addition to a stipend of €18,500 per annum. Nevertheless, the successful candidate will be expected to apply for Irish Research Council (IRC) and NUI Galway scholarships in the first year of their degree. Application Interested candidates should complete this Proposal Form: Surrogacy and Assisted Reproduction Proposal Form, and submit it, along with a CV and an academic writing sample (e.g. article, course essay, dissertation) by 5pm, 13th August 2021 to brian.tobin@nuigalway.ie with 'Child and Family Law PhD Scholarship' in the email's subject line.   Informal inquiries can be sent to the same address. Candidates may be invited to interview. Expected start date: September 2021 (but this is negotiable).  

One funded PhD position is available to work on a doctoral thesis in the area of Artificial Intelligence and the Technological Disruption of Law. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Dr John Danaher, School of Law .   It is open to the candidate to define the precise scope of their proposed PhD, but it should fit, broadly, within the parameters of the following project description:   Project Description: There is increasing anxiety among researchers and civil society about how AI and related technologies are threatening our existing normative systems. Recent ethical and legal debates about autonomous weapons, driverless vehicles, sentencing algorithms, and the algorithmic curation of news are just the tip of the iceberg in this respect. Most contributors to these debates take our current legal and moral norms as a given and use them to evaluate and critique technological developments. The goal of such contributors is to make technology more compatible with our existing norms, not vice versa. Consider, as an example of this, the EU’s High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence. In 2019, they produced a report that developed principles for creating ethically trustworthy AI. They did this by working from existing principles concerning trustworthiness and transparency. This has now been translated into a proposed regulatory framework for ensuring trustworthy AI through licencing and auditing of high-risk AI applications. What these contributions seem to overlook is the potential for AI and related technologies to radically transform our existing moral and legal systems. As new technologies give us new powers and opportunities for action, and as we become more accustomed to their role in our lives, we often modify or alter our commitment to our existing norms. This has happened repeatedly in the past and is likely to happen again in the future. What significance does this have for the current policy debates about AI and law? This PhD project should address this neglected perspective on the relationship between AI and law. It should consider the mechanisms through which AI can disrupt normative reasoning and catalyse future legal-moral changes. It should consider the implications this has for legal reform and governance. Law is often accused of lagging behind technological innovation. By taking the neglected perspective it may be possible to better anticipate and plan for future legal-moral reforms. Representative research questions could include:  What is the historical relationship between technology and legal-moral reform? Is there a common pattern to such technological disruption of law? How are AI and related technologies currently disrupting normative beliefs and practices? How is this likely to change in the future? What is the appropriate methodology for studying and planning for future legal-moral reforms? What are the implications of technological disruption for processes of legal reform and governance? Entry criteria   Essential: A minimum 2:1 Honours (or equivalent grade) UG and/or PG Degree in law or a related discipline (philosophy, social science etc).    Desirable:   A 1st Class Honours (or equivalent grade) UG and/or PG Degree in law or a related discipline (philosophy, social science etc).   Funding: The scholarship is funded for a maximum of 4 years. It will cover full fees for the successful candidate, in addition to a stipend of €18,500 per annum. Nevertheless, the successful candidate will be expected to apply for Irish Research Council (IRC) and NUI Galway scholarships in the first year of their degree.  Application Interested candidates should complete this Proposal Form: AI and the Technological Disruption of Law Proposal Form, and submit a CV and an academic writing sample (e.g. article, course essay, dissertation) by 5pm, 13th August 2021 to john.danaher@nuigalway.ie. Informal inquiries can be sent to the same address. Candidates may be invited to interview.  

- No EU State Aid Related Obstacles - Executive Summary available here: Executive SummaryFull Report available here: Full Report Research being launched today (Thursday 29th April 2021), Commissioned by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) and produced by Professor Padraic Kenna, at the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy, NUI Galway, confirms that state support in new cost rental housing is in line with EU rules known as services of general economic interest (SGEI), which are decided by Member States, such as Ireland. The report, Supporting the Irish Housing System to Address Housing Market Failure, indicates that State support for cost rental will not distort the housing market, but will contribute to a properly functioning housing system. It outlines how the EU SGEI framework, and the specific conditions that are applied to individual Member States, enable them to support their housing systems to address housing market failure. Highlighting the gap in the market supply of affordable rented housing in Ireland, this report clears the way for larger scale state support in a cost rental scheme, which is badly need to address crippling rents in the private rented sector. The Irish Government will legislate on the terms and conditions of any cost rental programme in the forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill. Speaking at today’s launch Dr Donal McManus, ICSH Chief Executive says, “Our sector has been calling for cost rental housing for a number of years to embed affordability in our housing system. The 2020 Programme for Government commits to a cost rental model that creates affordability for tenants and a long term sustainable model for the construction and management of homes. 390 cost rental home have been approved this year by the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, to be delivered by three AHBs. Building on this, and as part of the Government’s forthcoming ‘Housing For All’ policy initiative, we would support the recommendation in Professor Kenna’s report that the Government should introduce a multi-annual cost rental programme to ensure continuous delivery of cost rental housing over the coming years. This research provides a comprehensive view on how EU SGEIs operate in the housing sector and identifies that the public policy objective of meeting citizens' housing needs, where this need is not being met by the market, is one of a number of reasons as to why cost rental housing is consistent with EU SGEI rules.” SGEIs, such as social and affordable housing activities deliver outcomes in the overall public interest that would not be supplied by the market without public intervention. The concept of a service of general economic interest is an evolving notion that depends, among other things, on the needs of citizens, technological and market developments and social and political preferences in the Member State concerned. Irish state support in this area has been recognised as an SGEI in EU law for over twenty years. Author of the report, Professor Padraic Kenna, of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy NUI Galway, says “An affordable and good-quality home is essential for every person’s well-being and social participation. Reliance on markets has largely failed to ensure adequate and affordable rented housing, even for households in secure and well paid employment. In Ireland, It is widely acknowledged that many private sector rents are unaffordable, except for a small proportion of the population, and this constitutes a market failure. The two elements that are required for a Member State to make lawful use of SGEIs are economic activity and market failure. AHBs should have a key role in delivery and management as it chimes with their non-profit mission; they are managing homes not real estate assets, and there is no conflict between the interests of shareholders and tenants. AHBs are in it for the long-term and there is no leakage of state investment. To ensure that these cost rental homes remain truly affordable, this model must be large-scale and long-term. To protect State investment, safeguards are needed to ensure that these homes don't become part of an offshore fund’s ‘asset portfolio’. Equally, tenant purchase would completely undermine the economic basis of the cost rental model in Ireland.” Dr McManus added, “AHBs are entrusted by local authorities to provide accommodation, which is in line with their non-profit Articles of Association and charitable status. This has been accepted by the European Commission as meeting the criteria for social housing SGEIs. The Affordable Housing Bill 2020 sets out a new legislative basis for cost rental delivery in Ireland. And the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, announced in Budget 2021, will see the Department make €35 million in loan funding available to Approved Housing Bodies for the purpose of providing cost rental housing. Cost rental schemes, with currently proposed rents of €1,200 per month, will facilitate those in the income deciles who cannot afford to rent in the private market. However, to achieve affordable rents of €1,200 per month requires State Aid. Current cost rental housing plans include 50 units at Enniskerry Road, County Dublin, 306 units at Shanganagh Co. Dublin and a planned cost rental scheme of 400 units at St. Michael’s Estate, Dublin 8. However, in the context of approximately 340,000 private tenancies in Ireland, a multi-annual cost rental delivery programme is required to ensure that this form of tenure is scaled-up to meet the housing affordability needs of Irish households.” Notes Defining Social Housing at EU Level: There is no universally accepted definition of social housing and it is not officially defined across Europe. Two models have been identified, mainly based on the allocation criteria. Universal approaches assume public responsibility for providing everyone with decent, affordable housing, while targeted approaches assume that social housing is only directed to those whose demand is not satisfied by the market. Four general features of social housing can be identified that vary between different national systems: Tenure: Social housing is mainly provided for rent, but in some countries also for sale, intermediate tenure or shared ownership (i.e. to buy                a share and pay a rent for the remainder).Provision: Different providers of social housing exist, ranging from authorities, non-profit associations and companies to cooperatives, for-      profit developers and investors.Beneficiaries: In some countries social housing is directed to all citizens and high income ceilings should guarantee a mix among beneficiaries. In others, it is a targeted service and low income ceilings ensure that only the most vulnerable groups are eligible. Besides income ceilings, other criteria such as housing conditions, homelessness, unhealthy accommodation, over-occupation and forced cohabitation can play a role and prioritise certain target groups such as youths, elderly, disabled persons, families with many children, ethnic minorities or refugees.Funding arrangements: The social housing sector mainly relies on public funds in some countries, while in others on credits raised on the finance market. Different sources are used for social housing projects, ranging from private loans, mortgages and private funds to public grants and loans. In addition, municipalities often contribute by offering land at reduced prices or even for free. Defining Cost Rental Housing: The term ‘cost rental’ has been defined as ‘all rental housing, irrespective of ownership, the rents of which cover only actual incurred costs of a stock of dwellings’. Cost rental housing is based on the principle of ‘maturation’ – i.e. the loans on earlier stock will have reduced over time, or have been paid off, and the costs of new developments can be pooled (cross-subsidised) over the total stock (or particular parts of it), resulting in a small increase in rents overall. The predominant source of finance can be secured through private borrowing, but the equity in (and security of charges on) the overall stock may result in lower borrowing costs. There may also be an element of public subsidy, or State Aid, free or cheap land, public guarantees on borrowing, interest subsidies, and housing benefits for tenants, in order to keep the rent levels at affordable levels. But maturation is the key in facilitating lower pooled rents, which still must cover management and maintenance costs. Interpreting SGEIs: The exceptions to EU rules on competition and other areas which SGEIs enjoy “can apply only if the services in question enjoy, in advance and by legal act, have been attributed a mission of general interest.” It is necessary to make explicit at the national level, that a particular activity is categorised as an SGEI, in order to apply the rules on eligible State Aid. Competition Commissioner Vestager, in 2017, stated that to be an SGEI, “social housing must respond to a public need: the provision of accommodation to disadvantaged citizens or socially less advantaged groups who due to solvency constraints are unable to obtain housing at market conditions. Member States may not define a social housing SGEI so broadly that it manifestly goes beyond responding to this public need.” However she adds, “The scope and organization of SGEIs differ significantly from one Member State to another, depending on the history, the culture of public intervention and the economic and social conditions prevailing in each Member State.” This offers a wider scope for social housing as an SGEI. In the recent 2018 Dutch CJEU case, AHBs in Ireland were defined in terms of SGEI or public service criteria, emphasising the not-for profit element. Defining Housing Affordability: 35% of net household income is a legally defined metric of affordability in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. However, affordable rents (at 35% of net income) in average private housing in Dublin in 2019/2020 were out of reach of Income Deciles 1–9. In Galway, those in Income Deciles 1–8 could not afford private sector rents. In the rest of the country, those in Income Deciles 1–7 could not access affordable housing in the private rented sector. Average private sector rents per month are currently not affordable for Income Deciles 1 (Weekly affordable rent at €74.57) to 8 (Weekly affordable rent at €224.62) in Dublin. This demonstrates that there is a significant requirement for increased affordable rental housing to cater for all those excluded from the private rented market. Cost rental housing should clearly target those households who are excluded from the private rented sector, or who cannot access housing at affordable rents, especially those in Income Deciles 4–8. 2019 Average net disposable income per week Weekly affordable rent at 35% net income Income Decile 1 € 213.05 € 74.57 Income Decile 2  € 284.34 € 99.52 Income Decile 3  € 330.51 € 115.68 Income Decile 4  € 374.70 € 131.15 Income Decile 5  € 428.91 € 150.06 Income Decile 6  € 491.00 € 171.85 Income Decile 7  € 556.81 € 194.88 Income Decile 8  € 641.76 € 224.62 Income Decile 9  € 767.18 € 268.51 Income Decile 10  € 1,266.16 € 443.16 Executive Summary available here: Executive Summary Full Report available here: Full Report    

The School of Law is delighted to announce the academic promotions of three staff members Dr Shivaun Quinlivan, Dr Rónán Kennedy and Professor Padraic Kenna. The academic promotions recognise staff member’s teaching and research excellence. Dr Shivaun Quinlivan promoted to Senior Lecturer ‌Dr Shivaun Quinlivan, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law is the Vice-Dean for Equality Diversity and Inclusion in the College of Business, Public Policy and Law. Her research focuses primarily on the right to equality with a particular focus on the right to education for people with disabilities: see De Beco, G., Quinlivan, S., & Lord, J. (Eds.). (2019). The Right to Inclusive Education in International Human Rights Law (Cambridge University Press). Dr Quinlivan acted as an expert advisor to the States of Guernsey in relation to the development of new multi-ground equality legislation from 2018-2020. In 2016-2017 she was an O’Brien Residential fellow in the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism in McGill University in Canada.  With Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley she co-leads two inclusive learning projects at NUI Galway: an undergraduate project funded by the NUI Galway Student Project Fund, and a postgraduate project funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Read Dr Shivaun Quinlivan’s full profile   Dr Rónán Kennedy promoted to Senior Lecturer  ‌Dr Rónán Kennedy, Senior Lecturer at the School of Law researches and teaches environmental law, information technology law, and the intersections between these. Rónán is a former member of the Advisory Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency and previously worked as Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice of Ireland, Mr Justice Ronan Keane. In 2020 Rónán was awarded a SFI Public Service Fellowship for the research paper “Algorithms, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Irish Legal Services Market”. The research paper examines the availability and growth of “lawtech” in an advisory paper for the Oireachtas Library & Research Service. Other recent publications which he co-authored include 'When is a Plan Not a Plan? The Supreme Court Decision in 'Climate Case Ireland'' and 'De-camouflaging Chameleons: Requiring Transparency for Consumer Protection in the Internet of Things'. Read Dr Rónán Kennedy’s full profile   Professor Padraic Kenna promoted to Personal Professor Professor Padraic Kenna is Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at the School of Law, NUI Galway. He researches, writes and lectures in housing and property law and policy. Padraic publishes widely in housing, human rights and property law journals and books, providing a critical analysis of contemporary law and policy. He has extensive experience of working in housing development and advocacy in both the statutory and non-governmental sectors.    Padraic’s recent publications on housing and housing rights at Irish and European level include a set of Briefing Papers on ‘Integrating EU Charter Housing Rights into EU Economic Governance and Supervision’ and ‘A Lost Decade - Study on Mortgage Possession Court Lists in Ireland.’ Read Professor Padraic Kenna’s full profile

NUI Galway’s Student Law Society have unveiled their programme of events to mark their 100th Anniversary which takes place from 1-8 March. LawSoc is  one of the oldest and pre-eminent societies in Ireland and fosters unity amongst students, providing them with a social outlet. To mark the centenary, the society are hosting a series of virtual events featuring some of the most respected legal minds in the country. The virtual event over the course of the week will feature guests including: The Honourable Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Chief Justice of Ireland, President of the Supreme Court; Dr Tom Courtney, Author of ‘The Law of Companies’, FE1 Company Law Examiner, and NUI Galway Alumnus; and NUI Galway alumni representatives from A&L Goodbody Solicitors; and Frank Greaney,Courts Correspondent for Newstalk/Today FM, multi-award winning Journalist and NUI Galway Alumnus. On Monday, 8 March, LawSoc marks the end of the Centenary celebrations with a Webinar marking ‘International Women’s Day, with guests Michele O’Boyle,2020 President of the Law Society of Ireland; Maura McNally, Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland; andAnne Marie McMahon, Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. The event will be moderated by NUI Galway law lecturer, Ursula Connolly. Niamh Lynch, Auditor of the Law Society said; “During such unprecedented times for the world over, I am reminded of the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that “so often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune. We are delighted to launching our LawSoc100 Centenary Celebrations. We  hope that the celebrations will allow us an opportunity to reflect on the last 100 years of the Law Society, which has grown to become one of the largest societies in NUI Galway, and indeed one of the oldest in the Country. “We also hope that the celebration events will show the adaptability, perseverance and tenacity of the Society in reaching this significant milestone – traits which we aspire to in the present times. The past 100 years have taught us that adaptability and catering to changing times are assets which have become embedded into the values of the Society. Here, at LawSoc, we hope our attempt at embracing persistence throughout these challenging times, will result in good fortune for the society and its members. We stand at such a significant time in history and we intend to reflect that through our recent developments of further expansion into the digital world, examples being from our podcast ‘The Legal Lens with NUI Galway’s Law Society’; to our monthly LawSoc Gazette Newsletters; to these very celebrations. I hope you enjoy the Centenary Celebrations, and that you can join us as we journey the new chapter of our Society’s history.” Patrick McWalter, Vice-Auditor of the Law Society commented: “At the very core of LawSoc’s character is the desire for community, debate, engagement, and kinship – it is for this reason that we are more determined than ever before to ensure that we mark this momentous occasion- given that our community is now physically further apart than ever before. The Law Ball is the highlight of every Law Student’s calendar in NUI GALWAY, and for that reason we will be hosting our online Law Ball – let it never be said that a hidden virus stopped us from marking our Centenary in style. “We, as a society, are honoured to be joined by some of the brightest legal minds in the country for our celebrations, and we know that our members – past and present – will find these events both stimulating and engaging. As we stand at the end point of our first centenary, and as we look towards our next 100 years as a Society, we hope as a Society to proudly carry the baton from the previous ninety-nine committees, and to look towards the hundred years knowing that there is nothing that can weather the desire for citizenship, debate, and most of all, togetherness with our friends, colleagues and members.” President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh commented on the Centenary: “The Society encapsulates what NUI Galway is about – here for our Students, for civic Society, in terms of social justice, human rights and how we maintain good society more generally. The Law Society encapsulates values of respect for each other, excellence, openness and sustainability. The 100th Anniversary is significant in that the Society has sustained the student traditions over the years – a place I remember as one of oratory and  welcome. The Law Society starts a new century now, and in doing so we recognise the importance of law in Society, especially for those most vulnerable in Society who very often need the protection of law.” All events take place online, and registration is essential. Registration is first come first served via Eventbrite. Students are also invited to the Virtual Law Ball, on Friday, 5 March. For more information see NUI Galway Law Society Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn pages. Events include: The Honourable Mr Justice Frank Clarke Chief Justice of Ireland, President of the Supreme Court Monday, 1 March, 5-6pm Free Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/141820399633 Dr Tom Courtney Author of ‘The Law of Companies’, FE1 Company Law Examiner, NUI Galway Alumnus. “The Conflicting Interests of Company Directors” Tuesday, 2 March, 5-6pm Free Registration : https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/141723000309 A&L Goodbody Solicitors, Dublin Brian O'Malley, Partner; Bríd Nic Suibhne, Senior Associate, Employment; Eugenée Mulhern, Senior Adviser, Corporate and M&A; Eoghan Kenny, Senior Manager, Data Projects Back to the Future: How an International Law Firm has evolved over 100 years, and is preparing for the next 100. Wednesday, 3 March, 5-6pm Free Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/141854820587 Frank Greaney, Courts Correspondent for Newstalk/Today FM, multi-award winning Journalist and NUI Galway Alumnus. “Media and the Law” Thursday, 4 March, 5-6pm Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/141727036381 The Roaring 20’s, at a distance – The Virtual LawSoc Law Ball featuring cocktail making demonstrations, Comedian and MC Tom O’Mahony from Damo & Ivor, Republic of Telly and Irish Pictorial Weekly, Spot Prizes and lots more. Friday, 5 March, 7-9pm Tickets €10 from SocsBox website, (redeemable against your cocktail ingredients). https://cutt.ly/Ck4G4AA Women in Law : “Celebrating International Women’s Day” Michele O’Boyle 2020 President of the Law Society of Ireland, Maura McNally (Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland) and Anne Marie McMahon, Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána Moderated by Ursula Connolly, School of Law, NUI Galway. Monday, 8 March 2020, 5-6pm Registration coming https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/NUI Galway-lawsoc-celebrates-international-womens-day-tickets-142226387955 -Ends-.

NUI Galway academic examines use of software, tech and AI in justice system as part of SFI Public Service Fellowship The rapid development and increased use of software and technology for legal services and in the courts could reduce costs and improve access to justice but deepen the digital divide and strengthen existing biases in the justice system, research from NUI Galway has cautioned. Dr Rónán Kennedy, lecturer in the University’s School of Law, examined the availability and growth of “lawtech” in an advisory paper for the Oireachtas Library & Research Service. Dr Kennedy was awarded a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Public Service Fellowship to carry out the research as part of the Spotlight series, which gives TDs and Senators in-depth briefings on a single policy issue or topic.  The research paper “Algorithms, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Irish Legal Services Market”, outlined the pros and cons of increased use of software and technology in the legal sector. Dr Kennedy said: “Lawtech has been part of a wave of change and innovation in the legal services market, globally and in Ireland. It could save consumers and businesses money and time, and be a sector for economic growth.  “However, it is not a silver bullet to solve the problem of access to justice. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used more by lawyers and courts, it could lead to fairer outcomes or repeat existing biases.” The research paper noted: Lawtech could reduce costs and provide better access to justice by making it easier for lawyers to create standard documents or allowing people to access legal information and advice online, including through automated apps. It could worsen the digital divide in society and solidify existing biases in the legal system, by preventing those without IT skills from accessing legal services or by relying on historical data which is prejudiced. Areas for immediate legislative intervention include expansion of the validity of digital signatures for uses such as wills or legal proceedings, and the admissibility of digital recordings in court. Members of the Oireachtas could consider longer-term policy questions, such as whether AI professions should be regulated or how to manage the use of AI by lawyers and judges. The Oireachtas and Government may need to explore whether some legislation should be “born digital”’ - written both in a human language and computer language from the outset. Dr Kennedy’s research noted that AI software programs may also “learn” to discriminate in ways that are illegal, focusing on characteristics that are proxies for social class, race or gender such as home address or height. “It is unlikely that AI can or will ever replace humans, but it may allow faster, cheaper, and fairer judging. However, if this software is not carefully designed, it could make prejudice even more difficult to remove from the justice system,” he said.  Dr Kennedy said: “The paper explores technology which is already bringing about significant transformation in legal practice and in the courts, and may change it radically in the future. “The SFI Public Interest Fellowship provided a very interesting opportunity to learn more about how the Oireachtas operates, the important work of legislators, and how researchers can contribute to the development of policy.  “My findings raise important questions that lawmakers and everyone involved in legal services should consider. The pandemic has shown how useful technology can be, but we need to have a debate about how we manage tools like remote court hearings and AI assistants for lawyers and judges to ensure that all of the impacts are positive.” The Spotlight paper, published by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, is available to read at www.oireachtas.ie/en/how-parliament-is-run/houses-of-the-oireachtas-service/library-and-research-service/for-researchers/researcher-in-residence-ronan-kennedy/.  Dr Kennedy’s publication emanated from research supported in part by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under Grant Number 19/PSF/7665. He is one of six researchers seconded to the Houses of the Oireachtas Library & Research Services as part of the SFI public service fellowship programme. 

TrialWatch Fairness Report Shows Flaws in Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law Courts’ Treatment of Individuals with Disabilities Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, is a member of Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch ‘experts panel’. He has authored a report for the TrialWatch initiative, which was published today.  The press release and full report are available here. The TrialWatch Fairness Report written by Dr O’Mahony found that Indonesia’s prosecution of Suzethe Margaret earlier this year for blasphemy violated the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  Ms Margaret is a woman who experiences psychosocial disability who was prosecuted for blasphemy as a result of entering a Mosque, carrying a dog, wearing shoes and having an altercation with the Mosque’s caretaker while she was unwell.  The report concludes that Indonesia’s blasphemy law permits convictions “on the basis of ‘subjective feelings of offensiveness’” and is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression and religion, as well as with non-discrimination norms.  TrialWatch experts assign a grade of A, B, C, D, or F to the trial reflecting their view of whether and the extent to which the trial complied with relevant international human rights law.  Dr. O’Mahony gave the proceedings a grade of “C.”  This trial took place against the backdrop of efforts to expand Indonesia’s blasphemy law and this is not the first time the law has been used to prosecute persons who experience psychosocial disability in Indonesia. In his assessment of the trial, Dr. O’Mahony said: “While I welcome the fact that Ms. Margaret was not convicted, the court’s failure to adequately assess the supports Ms. Margaret needed and the absence of reasonable accommodations made her a spectator at her own trial. Indonesia needs to do more to ensure those involved with the criminal justice system are trained to provide equal access to justice for persons with disabilities.” The Clooney Foundation for Justice now call on the Indonesian government to repeal its blasphemy law; it further calls on Indonesia to take the steps necessary to ensure respect for the rights of persons with disabilities in line with its obligations under the UN Convention in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Clooney Foundation for Justice's TrialWatch initiative monitors and grades the fairness of trials of vulnerable people around the world, including journalists, women and girls, religious minorities, LGBTQ persons, and human rights defenders. Using this data, TrialWatch advocates for victims and is developing a Global Justice Ranking measuring national courts’ compliance with international human rights standards.

Chief Justice Dr Mathilda Twomey, who has recently been appointed Adjunct Professor at NUI Galway’s School of Law, has been awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights. Chief Justice Twomey is one of 15 people to receive this prestigious annual award which marks Human Rights Day and recognises the efforts of all those who work endlessly to advance the causes of human rights and the rule of law. The award commends Chief Justice Twomey’s work in the protection of minors. Earlier this year, Chief Justice Twomey was appointed as Chairperson of the Child Law Reform Committee. In this role she has led the committee’s work in identifying and reviewing the laws of Seychelles to prevent and punish child abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation.  This work seeks to strengthen the legal protection offered to children in accordance with the Constitution of Seychelles, and with international and regional human rights law. Chief Justice Dr Mathilda Twomey said: “I am humbled by the award. I head a small group of women who have more than me worked tirelessly to bring reform to the law regarding the abuse of children in its multifarious forms. They are the unsung and unseen heroes.  It is to them that I offer this award.   However, I will use this prize and my platform to continue to champion the rights of the most vulnerable persons in society.” Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: “We are delighted to see the Chief Justice Twomey receive this prestigious award for her work on promoting the human rights of children.  This recognises a lifetime of public service and advocacy promoting and defending human rights and the rule of law. Chief Justice Twomey is joining NUI Galway as an Adjunct Professor in Law and we are looking forward to her contribution to teaching and research in the School of Law and the Irish Centre for Human Rights.” Chief Justice Twomey was the first female judge in the history of the Seychelles. As a member of the Constitutional Commission, she helped draft the country’s new constitution between 1992 and 1993. She also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Seychelles from August 2015 to September 2020.  She is an alumna of NUI Galway’s School of Law having completed both an LLM and a PhD. She received both a James Hardiman Scholarship from NUI Galway and an Irish Research Council Scholarship, by the Government of Ireland to support her PhD entitled ‘Legal métissage in a micro jurisdiction: the mixing of Common Law and Civil Law in Seychelles’. In 2016 NUI Galway awarded Chief Justice Twomey an Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy and Government in recognition of her contribution to scholarship and her significant achievements throughout her distinguished career. Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, said: “Congratulations to Chief Justice Twomey on this award, which recognises her enormous contribution in the promotion and protection of child rights and human rights. Throughout her career, in the judiciary, the legal profession and in academia, Chief Justice Twomey has worked tirelessly to promote access to justice, accountability for human rights abuses, and women’s empowerment. We are delighted that our students and colleagues will have the opportunity to benefit from her immense experience, expertise and deep commitment to human rights.” -Ends-

Model emergency housing legislation addresses rented and mortgaged housing, migrant and refugee housing, housing for people with disabilities and those facing homelessness Dr Padraic Kenna from the School of Law in NUI Galway, has drafted Model Emergency Housing Legislation on housing rights with the Open Society Justice Initiative in New York, and international housing rights experts. The Model Emergency Housing Legislation is based on existing laws around the world, but builds on these to include housing rights for all. It can be used by human rights advocates and legislators to integrate the universally recognised right to housing into a binding national law.   To coincide with the release of the model legislation, the launch of a new report ‘Protecting the Right to Housing during the COVID-19 Crisis’ examines the measures taken by countries across the world in relation to housing during the pandemic. In March 2020, Ireland took immediate action to deal with the risk to human life and public health posed by COVID-19. Emergency legislation to prevent the spread of the disease and mitigate its adverse economic consequences included a rent freeze and a ban on evictions. Guidance for protecting homeless and vulnerable groups was issued in April. In line with European Banking Authority Guidelines, mortgage lenders in Ireland vowed to defer legal proceedings and repossessions against borrowers in default, and to extend payment holidays to homeowners hit by the pandemic. While medical advances will now, hopefully, protect people from the disease, it is generally accepted that the adverse economic consequences of COVID-19 will continue for some time. Just as there has been amazing progress in medicine, now is also the time to make progress in developing housing rights. Emergency measures on housing rights must be extended and developed to ensure the right to adequate housing for all. Dr Padraic Kenna, Senior Lecturer in Law, and Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at the School of Law, NUI Galway, said: “Many countries have implemented legislation to prevent evictions and rent rises during the COVID-19 pandemic. We now need to build on those housing rights protections in the context of the economic consequences of the pandemic. “This model emergency housing legislation addresses rented and mortgaged housing, but also housing rights protection for people in informal and temporary settlements, migrant and refugee housing, housing for people with disabilities and those facing homelessness. These are often the people who are most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 due to poor sanitation and overcrowding.” Marguerite Angelari, J.D., Senior Legal Officer with the Open Society Justice Initiative, involved in the drafting of the model legislation, said: “Governments must now take a comprehensive legislative approach to protecting the right to housing until the public health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is over. We hope this model legislation will act as a catalyst for the acceptance of comprehensive legislation to ensure the right to housing is protected.” Economic hardship, globally, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted housing for millions around the world, accelerating homelessness, evictions, and the loss of home ownership. Even before the pandemic, approximately 1.8 billion people globally lived in what international bodies characterised as “grossly inadequate” housing conditions and homelessness. Adequate housing is a key factor affecting a person’s likelihood of being severely impacted by COVID-19, including their ability to socially distance and access clean water and sanitation. Leilani Farha, Global Director for The Shift, former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, and 2020 Open Society Foundations Fellow, said: “COVID-19 has laid bare the global housing crisis. The proliferation of homelessness, and inadequate, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing is the result of governments having prioritized housing as a means for financial investors to generate profit rather than treating it as a basic necessity and a human right. Governments must ensure domestic legislation protects housing as a human right in a manner consistent with their international human rights obligations.” The Model Emergency Housing Legislation is available here: https://bit.ly/2Lk5tmJ To read the report ‘Protecting the Right to Housing during the COVID-19 Crisis’ is available here: https://bit.ly/3lUvdTn For more about the Open Society Justice Initiative, visit: https://www.justiceinitiative.org/

Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, the Hon. Mr. Justice Gerard Hogan, delivered NUI Galway’s School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture 2020 on  Thursday, 3 December. During his lecture, “Re-examining McGee, Norris and the X case”, Mr. Justice Gerard Hogan discussed and reflected upon these seminal Irish constitutional law cases and recent constitutional reform. A full recording of the event, held virtually over Zoom can be watched back on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lZwSxsn1E6U The full text of the lecture: Annual Distinguished Lecture 2020 The School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture was chaired by Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights and UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: “The School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture plays an important role in further enriching our students’ learning experience. There are many important lessons to be learned in this year’s lecture “Re-examining McGee, Norris and the X case” including an opportunity to re-consider these important judgments from a comparative, legal and social perspective.” The Hon. Mr. Justice Gerard Hogan is a renowned legal scholar and has served as Advocate General of the European Court of Justice since 2018. Previously Mr. Justice Hogan was a former Judge of the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Ireland. Now in its tenth year, previous speakers of the Lecture have included: Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University; Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University; Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court with Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court; Mr Justice Nial Fennelly of the Irish Supreme Court; Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; Judge Síofra O'Leary of the European Court of Human Rights; and Justice Leona Theron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

Dr. Róisín Mulgrew was invited by the Academy of European Law to host a session during their online conference on 'The European Prison Rules as a Standard Setter for European Prison Conditions'. Dr. Mulgrew delivered a seminar on 'The Council of Europe's 2012 Recommendation concerning foreign prisoners: the need for specialised standards and challenges in implementation' on 30th November. This professional development course was attended by judges, prosecutors, lawyers, prison and probation staff, as officials from human rights oversight departments from EU Member States.

Global law firm DLA Piper has today announced the launch of the Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship in partnership with NUI Galway School of Law. The new scholarship, which is named after Terry O’Malley, Chairman Emeritus (US), will provide funding and support to students in financial need studying in the University’s award-winning School of Law. As well as the scholarship, which will provide support to successful students over the course of their degree, a separate annual Terence O’Malley DLA Piper bursary will be awarded to the student achieving the highest grade in the University’s new Law and Innovation module. As part of the partnership, Mr. O’Malley, who has family roots in the West of Ireland, will also host an annual lecture with law students at the University. Commenting on the announcement, Terry O’Malley, Chairman Emeritus, DLA Piper said: “Ireland holds a special place in my heart, and I am delighted to be associated with this awards programme. I look forward to helping develop this programme in the coming years.” David Carthy, Country Managing Partner Ireland, DLA Piper said: “NUI Galway’s School of Law is ranked 85th in the world for Law in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject,  and we are proud to partner with the school to support deserving students as they pursue their studies in law. At DLA Piper, we pride ourselves in being an innovative law firm, committed to embracing technology and adapting to meet the needs of global business. We look forward to seeing what innovative thinking the recipients of the annual Terence O’Malley DLA Piper bursary contribute to the industry in the future and we wish all of the students the very best in their studies.” Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law, NUI Galway added: “We are delighted to announce this exciting partnership with DLA Piper, who are recognised as one of the most innovative global law firms. We are very proud of our law students and greatly welcome this scholarship scheme and prize funded by DLA Piper, which will support students in reaching their full potential.” Applications for the scholarship are now open and further details of the scholarship are available at www.nuigalway.ie/dlapiperscholarship.

The School of Law is pleased to announce that The Hon. Mr. Justice Gerard Hogan, Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, will give the 2020 Annual Distinguished Lecture in Law at 6pm on Thursday the 3rd of December.  This will be a virtual event. The title of the lecture will be “Re-examining McGee, Norris and the X case”.  We have reached the maximum that Zoom can cater for. The event is free to watch the event live on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/nuigalway/posts/10158253271654079 This will be our 10th Annual Distinguished Lecture. Previous speakers include: Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University, Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University, Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court with Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly of the Irish Supreme Court, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Judge Síofra O’Leary of the European Court of Human Rights and Justice Leona Theron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

The project will facilitate and enhance the digital skills and competences of those working in housing and property, real estate, and associated activities across Europe. NUI Galway's Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy (CHLRP) has been successful in its bid for an EU ERASMUS+ funding award of €500,000 with five European partners. Over three years, the project will design and create an international online course for housing and property professionals in the public and private sectors. The modules, materials and learning tools will include PROPTECH – a term which includes blockchain, smart contracts, as well as online transactions and platforms for housing, property and real estate exchange and management. These will enhance digital skills and competences, and produce a skills management tool for housing and real estate operations, based on a mobile micro-learning platform. One part focusses on developing learning tools for professionals managing apartments/condominiums. Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway,, said: "This award recognises the European perspective of our work at NUI Galway, and makes our expertise and knowledge of housing and property issues available to an EU-wide audience. Our European and Irish housing and property law expertise at NUI Galway was integral to the successful €500,000 bid. The project will develop state of the art online learning tools to enhance learner engagement, motivation and participation. The ultimate training will be available for professionals involved in the housing, property and real estate fields, as well as policymakers." ERASMUS+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport. With a budget of €14.7 billion for 2014-2020 it provides opportunities for over four million participants to study, train, gain experience, and volunteer abroad. In addition to offering grants, Erasmus+ also supports teaching, research, networking and policy debate on EU topics. The European partners in this project with NUI Galway are UNESCO Housing Chair (Spain), University of Silesia (Poland), Union Internationale de la Propriete Immobiliere (Belgium), Infrachain, a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg) and Fundacion Iberioamericana del Conocimiento (Spain). Recently, the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy published a set of Briefing Papers on integrating housing rights into the EU economic governance framework. This is available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/chlrp/news/this-time-it-will-be-different.html

NUI Galway School of Law has been ranked as 85th in the world for Law in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject. Times Higher Education’s (THE) annual World Subject Rankings cover 11 subject areas, giving an overview of the best places in the world to study a chosen discipline. This ranking for NUI Galway School of Law recognises the School’s innovative approach to teaching law and high quality legal research. In recent years the School has responded to the changing employment market by introducing new programmes and making significant changes to its existing programmes. These changes ensure graduates acquire practical and academic skills to adapt to an ever changing world. The School’s excellence in research is driven by academics within the School and its internationally renowned research centres, Irish Centre for Human Rights, Centre for Disability Law and Policy and Centre for Housing Law, Rights & Policy. Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law, said: “This ranking recognises our commitment to delivering world class teaching and research excellence that informs national and international law reform and public policy development. Colleagues across the School make outstanding contributions through their teaching, guided with the aspiration of creating a better society.” Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, said: “NUI Galway is a world class Law School. Dynamic and engaged, international in its outlook and in all aspects of its teaching, research and policy impact, the School of Law is a wonderful place to study, teach and research law.” View the full list of 2021 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject

Dr Rónán Kennedy lecturer at NUI Galway School of Law has been awarded an SFI Public Service Fellowship for his project “Algorithms, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Irish Legal Services Market”. The project which is hosted by Oireachtas Research & Library Services will examine how information technology is enabling new approaches to legal practice and the work of courts, and how Irish law should respond to the rapid innovation that is taking place. AI-based tools could reduce legal costs and make it easier for individuals to get better-quality legal advice where and when they need it. However, they could also lead to smaller firms being left behind, and the use of AI to assist with judicial decision-making (as already happens in other countries) could take control away from judges and strengthen existing social biases and prejudices. Dr Kennedy said, “This fellowship provides an opportunity to see how the Oireachtas works, and how legislation is written. It will give the Oireachtas a better understanding of the social implications of innovations in science and technology, and will help academics working in those fields to communicate their research in a way that helps legislators develop better policy for very important topics.” Dr Rónán Kennedy is one of 12 researchers who were awarded a SFI Public Service Fellowship today. The SFI Public Service Fellowships were announched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, see full details here. 

Dr Brian Tobin of the School of Law presented a Family Law paper at the Society of Legal Scholars' first virtual conference today (4 September 2020).  Dr Tobin's paper, 'The (D)evolving Nature of Guardianship Rights for Unmarried Fathers under Irish Law?' was presented in the Family Law stream of #SLSVirtual20 and it will be published in the September edition of Child and Family Law Quarterly. Dr Tobin's paper can be viewed on the School of Law YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Si0bqZUY3ms 

The University has also announced the appointment of four new Adjunct Professors NUI Galway’s School of Law have announced details of a new postgraduate two year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) which will allow students to fast track to a career in law. The School of Law has also introduced an Irish-Language Stream for undergraduate law students and appointed four Adjunct Professors. The new course offerings and Adjunct Professors will further enhance the School’s innovative approach to teaching law, ensuring graduates acquire the practical and academic skills to adapt to an ever changing world.   The two year LLB is a full law degree, open to graduates from any discipline. It provides an excellent basis for work in legal practice, administration, business, government, the media, and many other areas. Speaking about the launch of the new course, Dr Rónán Kennedy, Programme Director of the LLB, said: “The LLB is an excellent conversion course for those who want to enhance their existing career, transfer to a career in law or develop their knowledge of the law for personal reasons. It provides a rapid route towards training for the legal professions in Ireland, offering all the subjects currently required for the solicitor and barrister entrance examinations in Ireland.” The new Irish-Language Stream has been developed in response to the demand for Irish Lawyer Linguists and is an optional stream available on the School’s undergraduate courses. The stream will allow students to develop their Irish-language skills throughout their four year full law degree with Legal Irish modules. In year three students will spend one semester studying at NUI Galway’s Gaeltacht campus in An Cheathrú Rua and one semester of professional work placement in an Irish-speaking legal environment.​ Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law, said: “It is the ideal qualification for students who want to build a career in law and open up a range of exciting job opportunities working through the Irish language. There are fantastic job opportunities for Irish Lawyer Linguists in the Institutions of the European Union.” The appointment of four new Adjunct Professors will give the School’s students further access to academic staff who are nationally and internationally recognised experts in their professions. The appointments include:   Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Judge of the Supreme Court, who has been appointed Adjunct Professor in conjunction with the School’s undergraduate course Law (BCL) Criminology and Criminal Justice. Professor Brendan Edgeworth, a Professor at University of New South Wales Law School and a distinguished property and housing law expert. Professor Edgeworth has been appointed as Adjunct Professor at the School of Law in connection with the School’s Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy Research. Professor Dr Guénaël Mettraux, Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Member of the European Union's Human Rights Review Panel, and now Adjunct Professor (International Criminal Law and International Humanitarian Law) at the School’s Irish Centre for Human Rights. Emily Logan, first Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children - appointed Adjunct Professor (Human Rights Practice) at the School’s Irish Centre for Human Rights. Newly appointed Adjunct Professor, Mr. Justice Peter Charleton said: “I'm delighted to be invited to assist in teaching in NUI Galway, a centre of excellence in legal education and a pioneer in the study of human rights law and of criminology in Ireland.” Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, said: “Guénaël Mettraux is a leading expert and practicing international lawyer who has acted as Counsel before a variety of international criminal tribunals. His appointment and extensive international practice experience will contribute greatly to our LLM and PhD programmes in international criminal justice and humanitarian law. “Emily Logan’s appointment builds on our commitment to supporting skills and practice based learning for students on our international human rights law programmes. Students will have the opportunity to work with a leading human rights advocate, former Chair of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, Ireland’s first Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and first Ombudsman for Children.” For more information about NUI Galway School of Law’s new two year LLB commencing this September, the Irish-Language Stream and Adjunct Professors visit www.nuigalway.ie/law. -Ends-

Tá ceapachán ceathrar Ollúna Taca fógartha ag an Ollscoil chomh maith D'fhógair Scoil an Dlí, OÉ Gaillimh sonraí faoi Bhaitsiléir Dlíthe (LLB) nua iarchéime a mhairfidh dhá bhliain agus a thabharfaidh deis do mhic léinn dlús a chur lena ngairm le dlí. Tá Sruth Gaeilge tugtha isteach ag Scoil an Dlí do mhic léinn dlí fochéime agus tá ceathrar Ollúna Taca ceaptha freisin. Cuirfidh na cúrsaí nua agus na hOllúna Taca le cur chuige nuálach na Scoile i leith theagasc an dlí, rud a chinnteoidh go sealbhóidh céimithe na scileanna praiticiúla agus acadúla le dul i ngleic le saol atá ag síorathrú.   Is céim iomlán dlí é an LLB dhá bhliain, atá oscailte do chéimithe ó réimse ar bith.  Soláthraíonn sé bunús iontach le tabhairt faoi obair i réimsí an chleachtais dlí, an riarachán, an gnó, obair in eagraíochtaí rialtais, na meáin agus réimsí go leor eile. Ag trácht ar sheoladh an chúrsa nua, bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Rónán Kennedy, Stiúrthóir Cláir an LLB: “Is cúrsa tiontaithe iontach é an LLB dóibh siúd ar mhian leo cur lena ngairm reatha, aistriú go gairm le dlí nó forbairt a dhéanamh ar an eolas atá acu ar an dlí ar údair phearsanta. Cuireann sé bealach gasta ar fáil i dtreo oiliúint sna gairmeacha dlí in Éirinn, agus na hábhair uile atá riachtanach do scrúduithe iontrála an dlíodóra agus an abhcóide in Éirinn á dtairiscint ann.” Forbraíodh an Sruth nua Gaeilge mar fhreagra ar an éileamh atá ar Dhlítheangeolaithe le Gaeilge agus is sruth roghnach é atá ar fáil ar chúrsaí fochéime na Scoile. Tabharfaidh an Sruth Gaeilge deis do mhic léinn a gcuid scileanna Gaeilge a fhorbairt agus iad i mbun céim iomlán ceithre bliana sa dlí. Sa tríú bliain, caithfidh mic léinn seimeastar amháin ag staidéar ar champas Gaeltachta OÉ Gaillimh ar an gCeathrú Rua agus seimeastar eile ar shocrúchán oibre gairmiúil i dtimpeallacht dlí ina labhraítear Gaeilge. Deir an Dr Charles O’Mahony, Ceann Scoil an Dlí: “Is í seo an cháilíocht is fearr do mhic léinn atá ag iarraidh gairm a mhúnlú dóibh féin sa dlí agus raon deiseanna fostaíochta spreagúla a bheith ar fáil dóibh sa Ghaeilge. Tá deiseanna fostaíochta iontacha ar fáil freisin do Dhlítheangeolaithe in Institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh.” Tabharfaidh ceapachán ceathrar Ollúna Taca nua rochtain bhreise do mhic léinn na Scoile ar fhoireann acadúil a aithnítear go hidirnáisiúnta agus go náisiúnta mar shaineolaithe ina gcuid gairmeacha. I measc na gceapachán tá:  An Breitheamh Onórach Peter Charleton, Breitheamh den Chúirt Uachtarach, a ceapadh ina Ollamh Taca ar chúrsa fochéime na Scoile sa Dlí, Coireolaíocht agus Ceartas Coiriúil. An tOllamh Brendan Edgeworth, Ollamh i Scoil Dlí Ollscoil New South Wales agus saineolaí iomráiteach ar dhlí réadmhaoine agus tithíochta. Ceapadh an tOllamh Edgeworth ina Ollamh Taca i Scoil an Dlí agus beidh sé ag obair go príomha san Ionad Taighde do Dhlí, Cearta agus Polasaí Tithíochta. An Dr Guénaël Mettraux, Breitheamh Shain-Dlísheomraí na Cosaive agus Ball de Phainéal Athbhreithnithe an Aontais Eorpaigh um Chearta an Duine, agus Ollamh Taca (Dlí Coirpeach Idirnáisiúnta agus Dlí Daonnúil Idirnáisiúnta) in Ionad na hÉireann do Chearta an Duine anois. Emily Logan, an chéad Phríomh-Choimisinéir ar Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas agus an chéad Ombudsman do Leanaí in Éirinn - ceaptha mar Ollamh Comhghafach (Cleachtas um Chearta an Duine) ag Ionad na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine. Deir an tOllamh Taca nuacheaptha, an Breitheamh Onórach Peter Charleton: “Tá lúcháir orm cuireadh a fháil chun tacú leis an teagasc in OÉ Gaillimh, atá mar ionad barr feabhais in oideachas an dlí agus ceannródaí i léann an dlí i leith chearta an duine agus léann na coireolaíochta in Éirinn. Deir an tOllamh Siobhán Mullally, Stiúrthóir Ionad na hÉireann do Chearta an Duine in OÉ Gaillimh: “Is príomhshaineolaí agus dlíodóir idirnáisiúnta atá ag cleachtadh a ghairme é Guénaël Mettraux a bhí ina Abhcóide os comhair réimse éagsúil binsí coiriúla idirnáisiúnta. Cuirfidh a cheapachán agus a thaithí fhairsing ar chleachtas idirnáisiúnta go mór lenár gcláir LLM agus PhD sa Cheartas Coiriúil Idirnáisiúnta agus sa Dlí Daonnúil. “Cuireann ceapachán Emily Logan lenár dtiomantas tacú le scileanna agus le foghlaim chleachtas-bhunaithe do mhic léinn ar ár gcláir i nDlí Idirnáisiúnta Chearta an Duine. Beidh deis ag mic léinn oibriú le príomhurlabhraí chearta an duine, iarChathaoirleach Líonra Eorpach na nInstitiúidí Náisiúnta um Chearta an Duine, an chéad Phríomhchoimisinéir ar Choimisiún na hÉireann um Chearta an Duine agus Comhionannas agus an chéad Ombudsman do Leanaí in Éirinn.” Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin LLB nua dhá bhliain i Scoil an Dlí, OÉ Gaillimh atá le tosú i mí Mheán Fómhair, faoin Sruth Gaeilge agus faoi na hOllúna Taca téigh chuig www.nuigalway.ie/law. -Críoch-

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Emily Logan, Adjunct Professor to the Irish Centre for Human Rights. Commenting on her appointment, Ms Logan said: "With such a strong global reputation for excellence in the field of human rights teaching, research and advocacy, it is indeed a great honour to join the Irish Centre for Human Rights". Emily Logan previously served as Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, appointed by President Michael D. Higgins, from 2014 to 2019. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, a fifteen member Commission, is Ireland’s national human rights institution and national equality body, accounts to the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) and is accredited by the United Nations as an ‘A’ status institution. In October 2018, she was nominated by her peers across Council of Europe member states as Chair of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. Prior to this, she served as Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children from 2003 to 2014, appointed by President McAleese and accounting to the Oireachtas (Irish parliament). In 2008 she was nominated by her peers to the position of President of the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children. Emily’s contribution to the rights of the children of Ireland, in particular children without parental guardianship, children in the care of the State, separated children or those deprived of their liberty, is widely acknowledged. She has for many years appeared in multiple national and international fora, including before the Oireachtas for sixteen years and regionally and internationally at the Council of Europe and across all United Nations Treaty-based bodies, UN Charter-based bodies and engaging with Special Procedures mandate holders.

Academic staff in the School of Law have contributed research papers, newspaper articles and other contributions to public discourse in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.  Dr Rónán Kennedy, 'Contact Tracing and Data Protection', Obiter Dicta podcast (May 2020) Prof Ray Murphy, 'Respect for human rights must be central to our response to Covid-19', Sunday Business Post (May 2020) Dr Shane Darcy, 'Human rights due diligence for business: elements and developments', Business & Human Rights in Ireland Blog (May 2020) Dr Padraic Kenna, 'This time it IS different: Covid-19 and the renewal of housing rights', Progressive Economy @ TASC (May 2020)  Dr Rónán Kennedy, 'Data Protection and COVID-19: Short-Term Priorities, Long-Term Consequences', Bloomsbury Professional (May 2020) Dr Padraic Kenna, 'If we are to create a just society after COVID-19, we need to talk about property rights', openDemocracy (May 2020) Dr Conor Hanly and Dr Rónán Kennedy, 'Is it possible to have a socially distant trial by jury?', RTÉ Brainstorm (May 2020) Tom O'Malley, 'Can jury trial be waived?', Sentencing, Crime and Justice Blog (May 2020) Dr John Danaher, 'Will COVID-19 Spark a Moral Revolution? Eight Possibilities', Philosophical Disquisitions Blog (April 2020) Dr Padraic Kenna, 'This time it will be different?' Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy (April 2020) Dr Rónán Kennedy, 'Why have Irish courts been slow to move online during the crisis?', RTÉ Brainstorm (April 2020) Dr Padraic Kenna, 'Could the Kenny Report solve the Irish housing crisis?', RTÉ Brainstorm (March 2020) Dr John Danaher also has a series of podcasts on various aspects of COVID-19 on matters such as surveillance and privacy, ethical contexts, healthcare prioritisation and how to understand COVID-19. 

Report shines a light on a ‘lost decade’ of mortgage possessions and warns that Covid-19 could result in a new round of arrears A major research report confirms, for the first time, that almost half of the mortgage possession cases listed before the courts are being pursued by “household name” banks, which are directly supervised by the European Central Bank. The research, A Lost Decade – Study on Mortgage Possession Court Lists in Ireland, was carried out by Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway. The report examined some 12,650 mortgage possession cases between April and December 2019, and provides a detailed breakdown of the financial institutions seeking possession of homes. The ECB ‘significant’ supervised entities accounting for 46% of the listed cases in the study period are AIB (and its subsidiaries), Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and KBC. The report also reveals that one in every five mortgage cases over that period was being pursued by Permanent TSB, which is 75% owned by the Minister for Finance of Ireland and is supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland. So-called vulture funds, or non-bank mortgage entities and retail credit firms, were taking one third of cases before the Irish courts over that period. Dr Kenna warned that Covid-19 could result in a new round of mortgage arrears and that many of the challenges of the last decade could re-emerge: “It is important not to repeat the mistakes of the past and I would recommended that those facing mortgage payment problems post Covid 19 should be able to avail of the State mediation, personal insolvency and new legislation in 2019 which obliges courts to carry out proportionality assessments.” His research confirmed that women have been particularly vulnerable to the actions of financial entities. “One of the most glaring findings of this research is the absence of a gender dimension in State reports on the issue. Women as the majority of single-parents, with responsibility for children and often most relying on State supports, are more heavily impacted by these actions of financial entities. Yet, despite legal obligations on equality, no State agency, including the Central Bank of Ireland, addresses gender in its reports”, explained Dr Kenna. The research finds that only one quarter of borrowers at risk of losing their homes had any listed legal representation. Some 7% represented themselves. In contrast, financial institutions were almost always legally represented, with just 10 legal firms accounting for 70% of the possession proceedings on behalf of financial entities. The report confirms that the numbers of possession orders being granted is reducing year on year, since 2015. Continuing the pattern over the years, for every two orders granted, three are not granted by the courts, for a variety of reasons. Most cases were dealt with by the County Registrar rather than the Judge in Circuit Courts. The highest proportion of cases were located in the South East (19% of cases) and Midland (18% of cases) Circuits. The full report, A Lost Decade – Study on Mortgage Possession Court Lists in Ireland, is available here: A-Lost-Decade---Report-on-Mortgage-Possession-Cases-in-Ireland- For more information please contact Dr Padraic Kenna at 0864176484 or padraic.kenna@nuigalway.ie, or Sheila Gorham, Marketing and Communications, NUI Galway, at Sheila.gorham@nuigalway.ie. Note to editors: The research is based on a sample of 12,650 cases, between April and December 2019, comprising 8,505 (67%) on County Registrars Lists, 1,467 (12%) on the Callover Lists and some 2,678 (21%) on the Circuit Court Judges’ List. There were 5,340 unique cases (excluding duplicate listings) in the period. This duplication of Listing occurs due to adjournments, or separate hearings, and Listings in each of the Registrars, Callover or Judges Lists in the period.  Media Coverage This major research report was discussed in many media outlets. These include reports from The Irish Times here and here, RTÉ News, RTÉ Six One News (Tuesday, @20.28), Irish Independent here and here, Irish Examiner here and here, Nuacht TG4 (@9.46), Newstalk, and Breaking News here and here.

“The EU institutional response after 2009 did not respect, observe or promote human or housing rights. This time it must be different” says Dr Padraic Kenna, NUI Galway Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at the School of Law, NUI Galway, has said that the EU should avoid the mistakes of the 2009 crisis by ensuring that human rights, and particularly housing rights are embedded within its response to Covid-19. In a set of three new Briefing Papers available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/chlrp/news/this-time-it-will-be-different.html  Dr Kenna outlines how EU institutions interacting with Member States’ in response to this crisis, must now apply the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, especially in economic governance and financial supervision.  He said that nowhere was this more important than in the way in which housing is treated. The three Briefing Papers will form the basis for a significant submission to the European Commission on a New Strategy for the Implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, now part of Treaty law for 10 years. Dr Kenna said: “Housing is a fundamental right and need on which so many other rights depend, like health, safety, privacy and home life, as Covid-19 has so clearly shown. Access to adequate and affordable housing for all is becoming a key test of the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Union.” “Housing is a major political issue in many Member States, including as we know, here in Ireland,” he continued. “Over 80 million Europeans are overburdened by housing costs.  One quarter of Europeans live in overcrowded housing, and an estimated 700,000 people were homeless in 2019. Housing is, once again ,the wobbly pillar of EU banking stability, and this will be exacerbated following Covid-19.” Dr Kenna also commented that a ‘business as usual’ attitude by EU institutions when it comes to responding to the Covid-19 tragedy was no longer good enough for EU citizens. “Maintaining the legitimacy of all our EU institutions is now a vital part of the recovery we need. To do this, we all need to see a real human and housing based-reboot.”

New Zealand is very much to the fore In terms of global developments in electronic conveyancing. Today (March 2 2020), we had a very interesting lecture on these developments in this area, including comparisons between eConveyancing progress in Ireland and in New Zealand, by Sandra Murphy Solicitor and IRC PhD candidate, and Professor Rod Thomas, of Auckland University, New Zealand, who is an international expert in this area.

The School of Law was delighted to welcome back Jacinta Niland (partner), Beauchamps Solicitors, to deliver a guest lecture on commercial leases to students of the International Commercial Property Law Module on the LLM in International and Comparative Business Law this week. Jacinta is a Bachelor of Civil Law graduate from NUI Galway (2005) as well as a Masters in Law (e-law & commercial law) in UCC (2006). She qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and became a partner at Beauchamps in 2017.

The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights is now ten years old. The Charter brings into European and Irish law a range of human rights – in such areas as equality, access to justice, respect for privacy and home, and a range of socio-economic rights. The Charter, in its entirety, addresses, and is applicable to, the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, and Member States when they implement EU law. To mark the 10th Anniversary of the Charter the School of Law NUI Galway arranged, together with the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL), and Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), a major conference in December 2019, with speakers from across all areas law of EU and human rights law and a range of EU Member States. Panel discussions were chaired by The Hon Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, The Hon Mr Justice Aindrias Ó Caoimh, and the Hon Mr Justice Tony O’ Connor. Pictured above are Dr. Stephen Brittain BL. Director ICEL, Dr Padraic Kenna NUI Galway, Marguerite Angelari, J.D. (OSJI) The Hon Mr Justice Nial Fennelly (formerly of the Supreme Court), Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Anna Van Duin, University of Amsterdam, Professor Jeff Kenner, University of Nottingham and Vice President of the Global Campus of Human Rights, Venice, Italy.  Conference participants in the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin

In September 2020 NUI Galway’s School of Law will enrol the first cohorts of students in two new undergraduate degrees; Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice and Law and Taxation. The launch of these two new programmes is the latest in a series of innovations by the School of Law to further develop the undergraduate study of law at NUI Galway. Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice is a unique new degree providing students with the opportunity to combine the study of a full undergraduate law degree with specially-developed modules in criminal law, criminology and criminal justice. Programme Director, Dr Diarmuid Griffin said: “Graduates of this programme will be well-positioned to pursue careers as barristers or solicitors specialising in criminal law or working with the agencies and organisations of the criminal justice system.” Law and Taxation will enable students to combine the study of a full undergraduate law degree with taxation and still explore other related areas of law and commerce including Business and Commercial Law, Accountancy, Economics, Digital Business and Management. Senior Lecturer in Taxation and Finance at NUI Galway, Dr Emer Mulligan said: “Ireland is an increasingly important hub on the international taxation landscape. Irish law and other professional services firms advise leading domestic and international corporations and financial institutions, who undertake their business in and from Ireland. This Law and Taxation degree will equip students with the graduate attributes, knowledge and practical work experience needed to pursue a range of careers in taxation across tax advisory roles and industry.” The two new programmes complement existing Law degrees on offer at NUI Galway including Law, Law and Business, and Law and Human Rights, which was launched in 2019 and is the first of its kind in the country. All Law degrees offered by NUI Galway are full Law degrees which means students have the option to pursue professional legal training as a solicitor or as a barrister upon graduation. All programmes offer study abroad and work placement opportunities and recent reforms of the Year 1 curriculum across all Law programmes means that students are equipped with core legal skills from the outset, before progressing to more complex Law modules. Head of School of Law at NUI Galway, Dr Charles O’Mahony explains: “It is a great time to consider studying Law at NUI Galway, especially with the new and innovative changes around our undergraduate programmes. We are very proud that the School of Law was named the ‘Law School of the Year 2019’ at the recent Irish Law Awards. NUI Galway Law students become highly-skilled, employable graduates able to progress to professional qualification and to pursue a range of other careers locally, nationally and globally. Our new Law degrees allow students to specialise in areas of interest to them, equipping students with both the academic and practical skills required for successful careers.” For more information on the new programmes visit our undergraduate page.

Dr Brian Tobin of the School of Law, Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley, lecturer in history at the College of Arts, Social Science & Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, Dr Rebecca Barr (University of Cambridge), and Dr Mary McAuliffe (UCD) held a successful two-day workshop on 'Feminism, Fertility and Reproduction: Towards a Progressive Politics' on Wednesday 4th - Thursday 5th December in the Human Biology Building at NUI Galway. The group received funding for this event from the Irish Research Council under its 'Creative Connections' scheme.

Congratulations to Dr Diarmuid Griffin who was presented with a President's Award for Societal Impact at a special event on 20 November 2019. Diarmuid was successfully awarded for his pioneering work on sentencing and release of life sentence prisoners in Ireland and is highly commended for his efforts in terms of national policy change and practices to prepare for the release of life sentence prisoners.  Before Diarmuid’s research and public engagement activities over a decade ago, at a national level there was little information on the release of life sentence prisoners.  His work has engaged directly with the Prison system in Ireland, Life sentence prisoners, Dáil question lines, advocating and influencing of policy, judicial citations and his work has most recently culminated in the creation and the passing of the Parole Act 2019. Read more at Diarmuid's Case Study.

The School of Law is proud to announce that the won of the Postgraduate Course of the Year in Law award sponsored by PwC. This was announced at gradirelandHigher Education Symposium & Awards 2020 on Friday 22 November 2019. The LLM had also been shortlisted in the Best New Course category. The  judging panel’s comments included, "Excellent innovation and teaching methodology, with strong links to industry".  Congratulations to programme director Dr Connie Healy and the entire teaching team of the Masters in International and Comparative Business Law.

28 November 2019 17:30 – 20:00 at Galway Court House 2 CPD points for attendance The end of the Irish lending boom has left many individuals and families with unsustainable levels of personal debt. This seminar, co-organised by the Irish Centre for European Law, the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy (CHLRP) at the School of Law, NUI Galway, will examine how the Unfair Contract Terms in Consumer Contracts Directive (UCTD), the Charter of Fundamental Rights, recent case law and legislation can assist borrowers in debt related proceeding. Based on the UCTD and the Charter, the CJEU has been developing the law in this area, which can be applied by the Irish courts. This is a free seminar but registration is essential. To register see https://ti.to/ ICEL/eu-law-and-debt- proceedings-a-new- approach or email icel@tcd.ie

Warmest congratulations to Ursula Connolly, who was awarded second place in the 2019 Dean's Awards for Inclusive Teaching (Individual Award). Ursula was nominated for the award by students, in recognition of her highly inclusive and empathetic approach to teaching. Ursula is pictured receiving her award certificate from the Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, Prof. John McHale, at the College's Inclusive Teaching Workshop. Ursula subsequently presented on her teaching approach to staff and students attending the workshop. Pictured below are the other award winners, the heads of School, including the Head of the School of Law, Dr Charles O'Mahony, and Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley and Dr Shivaun Quinlivan, who organised Friday's event.

A group of housing experts and public representative from Boston and Massachusetts visited the Centre for Housing Law Rights and Policy NUI Galway, as part of their housing policy fact-finding mission in Ireland. Pictured here with Dr Padraic Kenna are Kevin. G. Honan, Massachusetts State Representative and Chair of Committee on Housing, Chrystal Kornegay, Director of Massachusetts Housing, and Michael O’ Connor, President of M.J. O’ Connor Contracting in Boston, who hails from Co. Clare. The group participated in a seminar comparing housing law and policy issues between Ireland and Massachusetts.

The School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture 2019, in conjunction with the Sheehy-Skeffington Annual Distinguished Lecture, took place on Friday 27th of September 2019.  This year, our Annual Distinguished Lecture was delivered by Justice Leona Theron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.  The title of the lecture was ”Are we all Equal? Is the new South Africa’s promise of true equality a reality or still a dream?” This was our ninth Annual Distinguished Lecture. Previous speakers included Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University, Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University, Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court with Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly of the Irish Supreme Court, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Professor Nicholas Canny and Judge Síofra O’Leary. Justice Leona Theron: Justice Theron was born in KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa.   She attended Natal University from 1984 to 1988 where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.   In 1989 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship by the American Government to study in the US.   She obtained a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University in Washington DC in 1990.   Whilst she was in the States, she worked for the International Labour Organisation in Washington DC and for a firm of attorneys in Los Angeles. On her return to South Africa at the end of 1990, Justice Theron practiced as an advocate and also lectured at the University of Natal.  In 1995, she was appointed by former President Mandela as a member of the Judge White Commission which was tasked with assessing various contentious decisions that had been taken in the Public Service.  On 15 October 1999, she was appointed as a Judge of the High Court.  At the age of 32, Justice Theron was the then youngest judge in the country and was the first black female judge to be appointed in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.  After serving as a High Court Judge for eleven years, Justice Theron was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal.  She was the then youngest member of the Supreme Court of Appeal.  On 1 July 2017,  Justice Theron was appointed to the Constitutional Court, which is the apex Court in the Republic of South Africa.  Justice Theron’s rise from humble beginnings in a poor segregated township in South Africa, to the highest court in the land has been described as nothing short of spectacular and as an achievement against all odds. Justice Theron is well known for a number of leading judgments and, in particular, for her fierce defense of women’s rights.  In 2008, she handed down a seminal judgment in the KZN High Court in the matter of Gumede v President of the RSA.  Justice Theron ruled that certain statutory provisions which discriminated against women who were married under African customary law were unconstitutional as they constituted unfair discrimination on the grounds of race and sex.  Her judgment was later upheld by the Constitutional Court.  Whilst acting at the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Theron wrote a powerful dissent against the majority judgment in State v Nkomo who had reduced the sentence of a convicted rapist.  In doing so, Justice Theron emphasized the need for Courts to be mindful of their duty to send out a clear message to potential rapists and the community that they are determined to protect the equality, dignity and freedom of all women.  In a groundbreaking judgment on racism in the workplace, Justice Theron recently wrote a unanimous judgment on behalf of the Constitutional Court in Rustenburg Platinum Mine v SA Equity Workers.  Her judgment sets a precedent for the proper approach to sanctioning racist remarks in the workplace. Even more recently, Justice Theron’s majority judgment in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality v Asla confirmed that organs of state and private parties contracting with the state no longer have the protection afforded by time bars to escape the consequences of patently unlawful and invalid contracts. Justice Theron has been described as an activist.  She was also a founding member of the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges.  She sits on a number of boards, and has delivered papers at numerous conferences, both within South Africa and internationally.  Justice Theron has, over the years, received numerous awards for her contribution to the development of justice in South Africa.

Congratulations to our colleague, Dr Shivaun Quinlivan, and to our former colleague, Prof. Gerard Quinn, whose work was cited yesterday by the Irish Supreme Court in a landmark decision on disability equality law. Other work by Dr Quinlivan, and by students of the LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy, was previously incorporated in the General Comment on Article 5 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The General Comment, which addresses equality and non-discrimination for persons with disabilities, was adopted by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities last year. Dr Quinlivan and Prof. Quinn are experts in disability law, and the citation of their work is a testament to the quality of their research, and to its national and international impact. The incorporation of wording by our LLM students in the General Comment demonstrates the very high quality of their work also, and their strong commitment to social justice. Our congratulations to all concerned, and also to Dr Quinlivan, who led the group, on this wonderful achievement. The full decision of the Supreme Court is available at: http://www.courts.ie/Judgments.nsf/09859e7a3f34669680256ef3004a27de/0036387fa70d0e74802584480046ab2b?OpenDocument The General Comment on Article 5 of the CRPD is available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/crpd/pages/gc.aspx

Legislation developed by the School of Law at NUI Galway has been passed by the Oireachtas. The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Act 2019 enables courts to consider better solutions for distressed mortgagers. The Act has its genesis in the Keeping People in their Homes Bill, which was introduced in the Dáil in 2017 by Minister of State, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD. This legislation was originally inspired and drafted by Dr Padraic Kenna, Senior Lecturer in Housing and Property Law at NUI Galway, and NUI Galway Alumnus, Eugene Deering, BA, LLB, LLM, and Special Adviser to Minister Moran, following detailed research at the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy Research in NUI Galway and discussions with Department of Justice officials. The original Bill contained the key provisions of the new Act, including the critical ‘proportionality test’ – finding the outcome involving least interference with rights of respect for home, and taking into account the circumstances of all household members, advocated by Dr Kenna and Mr Deering. Dr Padraic Kenna, School of Law, NUI Galway, said: “This legislation builds on existing Government initiatives designed to assist people in mortgage distress, and reflects government policy of keeping people in their homes, and ensures that the circumstances of everyone living in the home, including children, are fully considered in mortgage possession cases.” Minister of State, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, presented and advanced the Act in the Oireachtas. The passage of the legislation was facilitated by officials in the Department of Justice and Equality, former Minister, Frances Fitzgerald (now MEP), and current Minister, Charles Flanagan TD. It was also supported by Jim O’ Callaghan TD, Fianna Fáil spokesperson for Justice and Equality, and passed by agreement of all TDs in July 2019.The legislation enables a court or registrar to consider whether the making of a possession order would be proportionate in all the circumstances, whether the lender has put forward a statement to the borrower which would enable the borrower and their dependants to remain in the home and settle the matter, and “additional matters it thinks appropriate.” The court must now also consider the circumstances of the borrower and any dependants living in the home. This will include the circumstances of any children, and persons with a disability.The new Act also enables a court or registrar to consider any proposal made by the borrower to the lender, which would allow him/her, and any dependants, to remain in the home, or to secure alternative accommodation – as well as the response of the lender to that proposal. The court will be able to review the conduct of the mortgage lender, as well as the borrower, in their attempts to find a resolution.Dr Charles O’ Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: “This significant legislative development will enable Irish courts to fully consider the circumstances of those at risk of losing their home. It was inspired and drafted originally in the School of Law, following detailed research on EU developments, and clearly demonstrates the impact of our research and engagement at NUI Galway’s School of Law.” The Act is available to download at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2019/19/For more information about the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy Research, NUI Galway, visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/chlrp/-Ends-

The School of Law NUI Galway has been named ‘Law School of the Year 2019' at the Irish Law Awards, securing the prestigious accolade for the first time.Outperforming the other Law Schools, NUI Galway's School of Law has a strong reputation for research and has made significant changes to its undergraduate law programmes over the past year. The School has also introduced a number of new law degrees, to include: Law & Business, new 2019 Law & Human Rights, new 2019 Law & Taxation, new 2020 Law Criminology & Criminal Justice, new 2020 In a year of firsts, the School of Law were part of legal history in March of this year when the highest court in Ireland, the Supreme Court, would sit in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway. This was be the first time that the Supreme Court would sit outside of a courthouse since it returned to the Four Courts in 1932, the first time it would sit in Galway and only the third time the court would ever sit outside of DublinRebecca McKittrick, a Masters graduate from NUI Galway’s School of Law was selected as a finalist in the ‘Law Student of the Year’ category. Additionally, the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness a great friend of the School of Law and Chair of the University’s Governing Authority received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the ceremony. Dr Charles O’Mahony Head of the School of Law said: “This is wonderful recognition of the School of Law, Irish Centre for Human Rights and Centre for Disability Law and Policy. We have strengths across research and learning, teaching and assessment.  This is also tremendous recognition of our collective contribution to our city, region and broader society through our scholarship and work on law and public policy engagement.  We were delighted to see our student Rebecca McKittrick selected as a finalist in the ‘Law Student of the Year’ category. The ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ conferred on the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness is fitting recognition of her extraordinary career and enduring commitment to the law, justice and public service.” Professional Work Placement / Study AboardAll students studying law at NUI Galway have the opportunity for students to gain real world experience through work placement or study abroad in the third year of their degree.  The School of Law has partnered with local, regional, national and internationally recognised law firms and businesses who offer high quality professional work experience for our law students.Students can also choose to avail of the opportunity to study abroad with partner institutions, transforming their university degree into a truly global experience.  The School of Law has partnered with leading universities in Australia, Canada, China, Europe and the United States. Innovation in Teaching, Learning & AssessmentThe School of Law works closely with students to support transition from secondary school to university, and to build the skills necessary for their law degree and career.  NUI Galway places the development of these skills at the heart of our law degrees.  In first year, students spend their first four weeks creating a solid skills foundation by concentrating on research, case analysis, statutory interpretation, legal citation and legal writing.  Once foundational skills are in place, students are then introduced to substantive subjects. School of Law Research & EventsThe School of Law is committed to engaging with the legal professions through events that inform public policy and practice.  The School delivers a wide range of conferences, summer schools, lunchtime talks and seminars every year.  These events are open to the public, complement student learning and provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to local legal community. The School of Law has an excellent research reputation. Staff publish with leading publishers and University presses (Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Hart & Routledge), and in the leading international law journals. A strong focus on public policy engagement has always been a key strength of School and Centres and in its research and teaching.  The School of Law also has an excellent track record of securing competitive research funding.Congratulating the School of Law on their award, President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “On behalf of colleagues at NUI Galway, I extend warmest congratulations to Charles and his team in the School of Law on securing the title of Law School of the Year at the Irish Law Awards. This recognises and respects the immense work and dedication which the School has demonstrated over recent years in providing excellent opportunities for students and for developing a range of innovations to our distinctive course offerings.  I am also delighted to see the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Justice McGuinness has been an adjunct professor at the School of Law since 2005.  She is one of Ireland’s leading jurists and has been a progressive and reforming force in Irish legal history over her lifetime.   As Chair of NUI Galway’s Governing Authority since 2013 she has made an enormous contribution to the governance of our University. On behalf of NUI Galway I extend our warmest congratulations as her achievements are so justly recognised by the Irish Law Awards in this way.” Awards for Galway Law FirmsA number of Galway based law firms were also honoured at the Irish Law Awards. Alastair Purdy & Co. Solicitors received the Connacht/Ulster & Munster Employment Law Firm of the Year award.  MacSweeney & Company received the Connacht/Ulster Law Firm of the Year, Connacht/Ulster Litigation Law Firm of the Year and the Connacht/Ulster & Munster Family Law Firm of the Year awards. Blake & Kenny Solicitors received the Connacht/Ulster Property Law Firm/Team/Lawyer of the Year award.

TUTORING POSITIONS Every year, the Law School offers tutorials to our undergraduate and LL.B. students in the core Irish law subjects. Applications are invited for tutoring positions in the following subjects:  Administrative Law Company Law Constitutional Law Contract Law Criminal Law Land Law Law of Equity Law of Torts Understanding the Law Applicants must hold a 2.1 undergraduate law degree.  If you are interested in tutoring in the academic year 2019/20, please submit a one page CV to Tara Elwood, Law School, NUI Galway (t.elwood@nuigalway.ie) by Friday 28th June 2019, indicating your preferred subject area(s).  The Law School anticipates that interviews will be held week commencing Monday 29th July 2019.

Dr Ioanna Tourkochoriti was one of the organisers of the 8th Annual Conference of the Younger Comparativists Committee of the American Society of Comparative Law was held on May 10th-11th at McGill School of Law. Prof Maximo Langer (UCLA, ASCL Vice President) delivered a keynote speech on “Plea Bargaining and the Global Administration of Criminal Convictions”. The Conference offered the opportunity to 60 early stage comparative law scholars from all over the world to discuss their work in a supportive and constructive spirit. Dr  Tourkochoriti is a co-chair of the 2019 Annual YCC Conference Program Committee More information on the event can be found on the McGill website.

In early March 2019, the Supreme Court held a historic sitting in NUI Galway, but a major judgment delivered by the Supreme Court today (11 April 2019) involved, in a sense, the Law School at  NUI Galway going to the Supreme Court. In the case in question, People (DPP) v Mahon the Court dealt with two important matters. The first was the manner in which a trial judge should interpret a jury verdict when there is some ambiguity as to the basis in which it was reached, a problem that can sometimes arise where a person charged with murder is convicted of manslaughter. The second dealt with principles and guidelines for the sentencing of manslaughter. This was the first time the Supreme Court had issued sentencing guidelines for any offence, and it involved a departure from a decision the Court had reached in 1988 that it would inappropriate to give sentencing guidance of this nature.  Among the sources on which the Court drew when setting out the guidelines was an article by Dr Diarmuid Griffin published in the Irish Jurist in 2015 on the release and recall of life prisoners. That was not the only NUI Galway connection. The appeal was argued by Tom O'Malley of the School of Law who acted as lead counsel for the State (with Anne Marie Lawlor SC and Gareth Baker BL).

Congratulations to Dr Connie Healy of the School of Law who has been awarded Irish Research Council (New Foundations) Funding to undertake research into the Unified Family Courts system in Baltimore, USA. This comes at a time where there has been a renewed call for specialist family courts in Ireland highlighted by research undertaken by the Child Care Law Reporting Project led by Dr Carol Coulter and the report of the Special Rapporteur for Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon. Dr Healy’s doctoral research into Conflict Resolution within the Family Law System was also funded by the IRC.

A very successful launch of ‘eConveyancing and Title Registration in Ireland' a co-edited book by Sandra Murphy, solicitor and Dr. Padraic Kenna, took place in the President’s Drawing Room in the Aula Maxima, National University of Ireland, Galway on Friday 15th March. Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy, Judge of the Supreme Court (retired) and President of the Law Reform Commission, launched the book with Dr. Charles O’Mahony as Master of Ceremonies. The book, published by Clarus Press, follows a conference held in 2017, chaired by the Honourable Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy and Mr. Justice Michael Peart and brought together national and international experts in the area of land law and conveyancing. The book represents a significant milestone in the development of a system of electronic conveyancing for Ireland.

The Irish Centre for Human Rights launched the on Thursday, 28 February, 2019.  Ms Gráinne O'Hara, Head of the Department of International Protection at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, gave the keynote address reflecting  on her experience of working with refugees in Mexico, the former Yugoslavia, Burundi, Sudan (Darfur), the US, Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.  Ms O’Hara also spoke to the need for highly qualified postgraduates in the area of migration and forced displacement, both at the policy level and in the field: “At a time when human mobility, and forced displacement in particular, is to the forefront of so many highly charged political discussions, the value of academic discipline on the distinct but related issues of migration and refugee flight comes into its own. The LLM in International Migration and Refugee Law and Policy on offer from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI is a case in point. A clear understanding of the relevant legal frameworks, coupled with evidence-based analysis on field realities, is critical to good policy making.” The LL.M in International Migration and Refugee Law will commence in September, 2019 and is the only course of its kind on offer in an Irish university.  The Irish Centre for Human Rights, as one of the world’s premier university-based institutions for the study and promotion of human rights, is uniquely placed to deliver this course.  The programme enables the development of expertise in international, regional and domestic law, policy and practice in the areas of migration, human trafficking and refugee law.  There is the opportunity to combine the study of international migration with specialised courses in international humanitarian law and peace operations, gender and law, child rights, and international criminal law.The core-teaching programme is supplemented with an exciting programme of guest seminars, workshops and conferences engaging with leading experts and practitioners in the field of refugee protection, human trafficking, international migration, human rights law and public policy.

Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley has been promoted to Senior Lecturer in Law at NUI Galway. Dr Buckley previously lectured at the University of Warwick and the University of Limerick. She specialises in equality law, labour law and family property law, and is currently co-leading a major project advising the States of Guernsey on the development of multi-ground equality legislation. She is also a member of the Berkeley Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Study Group, where she is a member of the Sexual Harassment Working Group and the Disability Rights Working Group. Dr Padraic Kenna has been promoted to Senior Lecturer in Law at NUI Galway. Padraic is the Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy and is leading a project on integrating housing rights into the EU institutional economic governance framework. Padraic has recently published Loss of Homes and Evictions across Europe – A Comparative Legal and Policy Examination. (Cheltenham, Edward Elgar). This book provides a comparative assessment of human rights, administrative, procedural and public policy norms, in the context of eviction, across a number of European jurisdictions. Through this comparison the book exposes the emergence of consistent, Europe-wide standards and norms.

A new book on 'Loss of Homes and Evictions across Europe', edited by Dr Padraic Kenna of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights, and Policy and the School of Law, NUI Galway, has recently been published by Edward Elgar.  The loss of a home can lead to major violations of a person’s dignity and human rights. Yet, evictions take place everyday in all countries across Europe. This book provides a comparative assessment of human rights, administrative, procedural and public policy norms, in the context of eviction, across a number of European jurisdictions. Through this comparison the book exposes the emergence of consistent, Europe-wide standards and norms. With contributions from experts across Europe, the chapters provide an assessment of eviction procedures in 11 jurisdictions, including Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Each chapter examines a number of factors relating to evictions in the respective jurisdiction, such as, the human rights and legal framework, nature and extent of evictions taking place, risk factors leading to evictions and relevant best practice guidance. All together, this book will make a significant contribution to the understanding of the similarities and differences between eviction policies across European states.As the first work of its kind to provide an in-depth comparison of eviction policies across Europe, Loss of Homes and Evictions Across Europe will be of great interest to those who are researching European housing law and human rights law and policy. Housing law and public policy makers, and those working within associated European institutions, will also find the data and accompanying analysis invaluable for informing their work. The book can also be purchased in digital form from Google Play, with a sample introductory chapter also available.

Watch Anne Driscoll's wonderful Ted Talk on eye witness testimony below. Anne currently holds a Fulbright scholarship in the School of Law where she teaches law and journalism students about wrongful convictions and investigative techniques. She is also conducting research on the establishment of a National Registry of Exonerations in Ireland.

A seminar with Professor Lia Epperson (American University Washington College of Law) took place on Thursday 8 November as part of the Legal and Political Theory Events Series. The seminar on ʻAn Examination Of The Competing Constitutional Principles Of Expression And Equality In The U.S. And Franceʼ was organised by Dr Ioanna Tourkochoriti.

The Irish Centre for Human Rights and the School of Law hosted a panel discussion with Dr Mary Robinson on the ‘The Necessity of Advocacy’ at NUI Galway on Wednesday, 24 October. A recording of the event can be watched below or on YouTube.  Opening remarks are provided by Professor Siobhán Mullally and the event was chaired by Judge Tony O’Connor of the High Court. Guest panellists include: Dr Gearóid O’Cuinn and Gerry Liston of the Global Legal Action Network; Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Justice for Magdalenes; Professor Donncha O’Connell, NUI Galway and the Law Reform Commission; and Professor Niamh Reilly, NUI Galway. A podcast of the event is available below: A photo gallery is now up on our Flickrpage:

On September 3 2018, Andrea Broderick was chosen out of 7 academic nominees of high calibre and was awarded the prestigious Edmond Hustinx Prize (€ 15,000) for her recent research activities on equality and accessibility for persons with disabilities. According to the jury awarding the prize: ‘In a short period of time, Dr. Broderick built up a very good reputation in the field of disability law and the law of equal treatment [generally]. She publishes in the major international journals in this field and is in the final stage of [co-authoring a textbook] on International and European Disability Law to be published with Cambridge University Press. She is also in high demand as a speaker at conferences around Europe and a much-appreciated lecturer in a range of different courses in both Maastricht and Hasselt [University]. The Edmond Hustinx Prize will provide her with vital resources to undertake this research’.Andrea Broderick is a graduate of NUIG, where she completed both her undergraduate and Master studies. After having undertaken the LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy offered by the CDLP, Andrea went on to complete her PhD at Maastricht University under the framework of the DREAM (Disability Rights Expanding Accessible Markets) network of researchers.

Address will include panel discussion with former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights  The Irish Centre for Human Rights and the School of Law will host a panel discussion with Dr Mary Robinson on the ‘The Necessity of Advocacy’ at NUI Galway on Wednesday, 24 October.Dr Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002) and the first female President of Ireland (1990-1997), has dedicated much of her life to human rights advocacy, deploying her skills as a lawyer, diplomat and political leader, to promote and defend the universality of human rights. Professor Siobhán Mullally, Established Professor of Human Rights Law, and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway highlights the importance of human rights advocacy: “2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement. Today we see human rights, and the institutions that grew from these human rights movements, under threat in many parts of the world. At a critical and often troubling time for human rights globally and in Europe, it essential that, as lawyers, we continue to advocate for human rights, and to reflect on the urgency and necessity of advocacy. This event, and the launch of new programmes in Law (BCL) and Human Rights and LLM in International Migration and Refugee Law, will ensure that at NUI Galway, we continue to play our part in training the next generation of human rights lawyers and advocates.”Opening remarks will be provided by Professor Siobhán Mullally and the event will be chaired by Judge Tony O’Connor of the High Court.  Guest panellists include:  Dr Gearóid O’Cuinn and Gerry Liston of the Global Legal Action Network;  Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Justice for Magdalenes; Professor Donncha O’Connell, NUI Galway and the Law Reform Commission; and Professor Niamh O’Reilly, NUI Galway.NUI Galway is widely recognised one of the world’s centre of excellence for human rights law and policy. The Irish Centre for Human Rights is one of the world's premier academic human rights institutions. Since its establishment, the Centre has developed a global reputation for excellence in the field of human rights teaching, research and advocacy.  The School of Law will take the opportunity to launch two new courses on human rights at the event – an undergraduate degree ‘Law (BCL) & Human Rights’ and a postgraduate masters ‘LLM International Migration and Refugee Law’.Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway said: “Next year marks the 170th year of teaching law at NUI Galway.  We are delighted that in our 170th year we will have our first intake of Law (BCL) and Human Rights students.  This is a unique undergraduate programme combining a full law degree with the study of human rights law.  We have made significant changes to our undergraduate programmes meaning that all students will undertake a yearlong professional work placement or study abroad in year three of their degree.  We are delighted to launch our Law (BCL) and Human Rights and LLM International Migration and Refugee Law at this event.  The School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights will continue to innovate in human rights scholarship and education and will support our students to realise their career ambitions and goals.”The panel discussion with Dr Mary Robinson entitled the ‘The Necessity of Advocacy’ will take place in the large lecture theatre of the Human Biology Building, NUI Galway on Wednesday, 24 October from 6pm to 8.30pm.  This event is free and open to the public but advance registration is essential at: www.conference.ie

The first workshop in the EU Economic Governance and the Charter of Fundamental Rights Project took place on Friday, 28th September 2018 in Galway. The workshop was attended by participant/experts from all over Europe and opened by the European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly. The project is organised by Dr Padraic Kenna of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy NUI Galway,  and funded by Open Society Initiative for Europe.

A new European-wide training network for early stage researchers in the field of disability rights has received €4.1m in funding from the European Commission’s Marie Curie programme. This network is known as the DARE Project (Disability Advocacy and Research for Europe) and will be co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway, with the collaboration of 7 partner institutions: the Institute for Social and Political Sciences (Portugal) , Maastricht University (Netherlands), University of Leeds (UK), the European Disability Forum, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities, the University of Iceland and Swiss Paraplegic Research.Dr. Eilionóir Flynn, Principal Investigator at NUI Galway said “The primary aim of DARE is to equip a new generation of researchers to respond to global challenges facing persons with disabilities and policy makers. Its goal is to give legitimacy, through research, to the lived experience of persons with disabilities, as a basis for law reform.” Fifteen Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be recruited across the network on a full-time basis over three years starting in September 2019 and will explore and develop recommendations for disability law and policy reform in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. All of the researchers will also have the opportunity to gain invaluable and funded work experience with leading civil society and public service organisations such as JUSTICE (UK), AGE Platform Europe (Belgium), the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Switzerland), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (USA), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (Belgium), Pi Consultancy (Netherlands), University of Limerick (Ireland), Lumos (UK), Christian Blind Mission (Ireland), European Social Network (Belgium), European Association of Palliative Care (Belgium), Pi Consultancy (Netherlands) and Vision Sense (UK).

The Commission on the Future of Policing published its report today. Professor Donncha O’Connell of the School of Law was a member of the Commission (appointed by the Government last year). The Commission proposes sweeping reform of policing in Ireland and in particular: A new approach to policing and community safety, which will ensure police are more visible in communities, and can focus on preventing harm; Measures to deliver a professional, ethical, modern and effective police service that is well-managed, cost-effective, properly trained and equipped; A new coherent framework for the independent oversight of policing and community safety, with a clear mandate for effective scrutiny, which will promote professional standards of policing and ensure fully independent investigation of complaints; A new framework for national security, headed by a National Security Coordinator, to pool intelligence and information and provide long-term threat assessments. The full report and background information is available at http://policereform.ie 

We are delighted to welcome Anne Driscoll to the School of Law as a Fulbright Scholar for 2018-2019.  Anne Driscoll is an award-winning journalist (Boston Globe, New York Times, People) who has investigated wrongful convictions as senior reporter at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University and as a US Fulbright scholar (2013-2014) and project manager of the Irish Innocence Project at Griffith College Dublin.  Anne will be working with our undergraduate and postgraduate students on projects associated with her area of expertise: wrongful convictions and investigative techniques.  She is also conducting research in an effort to establish a National Registry of Exonerations in Ireland.  She will supervise final year undergraduate students under the rubric of our clinical placement programme, which is coordinated by our colleague Larry Donnelly. Anne will also work with any law students interested in her wrongful convictions research projects.  Originally trained as a social worker Anne spent years counselling court-involved adolescent girls, she remains a licensed certified social worker and is the author of a self-help series of guidebooks for girls called Girl to Girl. As a journalist, she has devoted her career to covering issues of human rights, social justice, and human development and has sought to make a difference in the world, one story at a time. She was the 2016 recipient of the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice, is a Moth storyteller and the author of Irish You Were Here. She will be giving a TEDx talk entitled 'Bearing Witness' in Jacksonville, Florida on October 20, 2018.

The School of Law NUI Galway and Dr Stephen Kearns, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bon Secours Hospital, Galway, are delighted to host a one-day conference on medical negligence litigation at NUI Galway on Saturday 20th October, 2018. The conference is aimed at medical and legal practitioners and will address key issues in medical negligence including how to defend medical negligence claims; how to ensure that you have received informed consent; recent statutory developments on candour and open disclosure; and key issues in providing expert evidence. Speakers will include experts on medical negligence and medical practice. We are honoured to have Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, former President of the Irish High Court, deliver the keynote address. The final session of the conference will be take the form of a panel discussion and Q&A session. Registration: Click here for registrationDate: Saturday October 20th 2018, 10am-4.30pm Fee: €60 to include lunch and refreshmentsStudent Fee: €15 (valid student card required)CPD Hours: 5Location: Room HBB GO19, Human Biology Building, NUI Galway.Queries: Any questions in relation to the conference can be addressed to Ursula Connolly, at Ursula.connolly@nuigalway.ie Tel: (091) 493250

The School of Law is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Eilionóir Flynn as Established Professor of Law in the School of Law / Centre for Disability Law and Policy. Eilionóir is the Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway. She is a graduate of University College Cork (BCL, PhD), and published her first book with Cambridge University Press in 2011, entitled “From Rhetoric to Action: Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Eilionóir’s current research interests include legal capacity, advocacy, access to justice, and the intersectionality of disability, gender and ageing. In 2014 she was awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant for the VOICES project, to document the narratives of people with lived experience of legal capacity denial. An edited collection from this project, entitled “Global Perspectives on Legal Capacity Reform: Our Voices, Our Stories” was published by Routledge in 2018. She is passionate about educating a new generation of disability activists and scholars, and will co-ordinate a new Marie Curie Training Network known as DARE (Disability Advocacy Research in Europe) of 15 early stage researchers across seven European countries from 2019-2021. In 2018 she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award for a project entitled “Re(al) Productive Justice: Gender and Disability Perspectives.”At a national level she is actively engaged in the process of legal capacity reform, and co-ordinates a working group of over 15 civil society organizations in the fields of disability, mental health and older people on this issue. Internationally, she has supported the Secretariat of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in particular the working group which developed General Comment 1. She can be contacted at eilionoir.flynn@nuigalway.ie Recent Funding Successes DARE: Professor Flynn has secured €4.1m in funding from the European Commission’s Marie Curie programme for a new European-wide training network for early stage researchers in the field of disability rights. This network is known as the DARE Project (Disability Advocacy and Research for Europe) and will be co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway, with the collaboration of 7 partner institutions: the Institute for Social and Political Sciences (Portugal) , Maastricht University (Netherlands), University of Leeds (UK), the European Disability Forum, the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities, the University of Iceland and Swiss Paraplegic Research.The primary aim of DARE is to equip a new generation of researchers to respond to global challenges facing persons with disabilities and policy makers. Its goal is to give legitimacy, through research, to the lived experience of persons with disabilities, as a basis for law reform. Two new researchers from this network will be based full time at NUI Galway, and their research will focus on the intersectionality of disability and ageing, and on the roles of NHRIs and Ombudsmen in monitoring human rights obligations. Fifteen Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be recruited across the network on a full-time basis over three years starting in September 2019 and will explore and develop recommendations for disability law and policy reform in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. All of the researchers will also have the opportunity to gain invaluable and funded work experience with leading civil society groups such as JUSTICE (UK), AGE Platform Europe (Belgium), the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Switzerland), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (USA) the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions  Pi Consultancy (Netherlands), University of Limerick (Ireland), LUMOS (UK), Christian Blind Mission (Ireland), European Social Network (UK), European Association of Palliative Care (Belgium) and Vision Sense (UK). Wellcome: Professor Flynn has received an Investigator Award of £812,835 from the Wellcome Trust for her research project entitled “Re(al) Productive Justice: Gender and Disability Perspectives”. The key goal of this project is to make visible the experiences of disabled people in Ireland seeking reproductive justice. The project will achieve its goal using three complementary approaches. First, it will critically analyse the legislative and policy frameworks regulating reproductive decision-making for disabled people in Ireland in light of human rights norms. Second, it will use an oral history methodology to document the lived experience of disabled people in making reproductive choices in Ireland. Finally, it will draw on the findings from the legislative analysis and oral histories to develop a toolkit for health and social care practitioners. This toolkit will clearly outline the applicable legal regulation of this field in a manner accessible to practitioners, and document the supports which could be used to ensure respect for the reproductive rights of disabled people in health and social care decision-making processes. Three new researchers will be recruited to join the CDLP for this project, which will run for 3.5 years from December 2018.

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, opened the “First Thoughts” segment at this year’s Galway Arts Festival. In this speech, the President reflected on the idea of “Home” - the core theme of this year’s festival - and commended the work of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy. "This university is fortunate I believe to host the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy Research, whose work is so critical to enhancing our understanding of the housing system here in Ireland, and its complex relationship with international and European financial and monetary policy developments. The Centre is home to scholars who provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of housing, so may I quote Dr. Padraic Kenna, ‘[h]ousing addresses the basic need for human shelter, but also facilitates the essential human requirement for home’. I am obliged not to stray any further into the detail of housing policy in Ireland, not only for constitutional reasons but also because I am aware that Catriona has assembled an excellent panel to discuss housing this evening. I do, however, wish to make two more general observations at the level of principle." The full text of his speech is available here or watch the speech below:

Sandra Murphy, an IRC Scholar and PhD candidate in the School of Law was a guest speaker at a recent training day for the State Property Division of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office at Farmleigh House, Dublin. Sandra gave a presentation on her PhD research topic entitled: The move to eConveyancing in Ireland National and International Perspectives and facilitated a workshop on the move to the Pre-contract Enquiry system currently being developed by the Law Society Conveyancing Committee.

T‌he Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland Galway   Save the date17-18 May 2018Aula Maxima, NUIG  Keynote speakers: Judge Gerard Hogan, Irish Court of AppealJudge Pinto De Albuquerque, European Court of Human Rights  Guest Speakers Hilkka Becker, International Protection Tribunal Kathryn Cronin, Garden Court Chambers Raza Husain QC, Matrix Chambers Catherine Meredith, Doughty Street Chambers Colin Smith, The Law Library Please find link below for registration:  http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=555    Website:    www.nuigalway.ie/human_rights/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IrishCentreHRFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrishHumanRights  

The School of Law, under the auspices of the Public Law LLM, is hosting a half-day conference on Tuesday, April 17 on the theme: “Homelessness, the housing crisis and socio-economic rights.” This will bring together academic and civil society voices concerning legal and policy responses to the homelessness and housing crises. Confirmed speakers include Niamh Randall (Simon Communities), Padraic Kenna (NUI Galway), Thomas Murray (An Cosán) and Martin O’Connor (COPE Galway).Hardiman Building, NUI Galway, G0112.30-5.15pm, Tuesday April 17.You can book a place at the following link:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/homelessness-the-housing-crisis-and-socio-economic-rights-tickets-44549735458?aff=es2

Congratulations to Elizabeth Kamundia, a graduate of the programme at the Centre for Disability Law & Policy, who has been appointed as a Senior Human Rights Officer at the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights. Elizabeth was a DRSP Scholar at the CDLP and was awarded the inaugural Gold Medal for the programme having graduated top of her class in 2012.

ECB directed home possessions in Ireland is undermining human rights. ECB places home loan debtors in vulnerable situations at risk of home loss with no legal representation. ECB directions show no respect for Irish courts. ** The report  is available to download here: Access to Justice and the ECB** A detailed study of 100 Courts Lists and 2,400 cases of home possession in December 2017 and January 2018 indicates that ECB direct supervision of mortgage institutions in Ireland shows no respect for the human rights law or access to justice. Access to Justice and the ECB, a research report by the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway, shows that some 70% of home loan debtors have no recorded legal representation in mortgage possession cases.  Two thirds of those defending the actions of ECB directly supervised lenders had no legal reprersentation.  A small number of people (7%) are forced to represent themselves.  In Ireland, ECB directly supervised banks include Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland, KBC Bank, Ulster Bank and PTSB. The report draws on Central Bank research showing that 40% of bank and 70% of ‘vulture fund’ cases result in home possession orders. ‌‌“Access to justice for all is core to the rule of law,” Dr. Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy said. “However, today in Ireland, we have a situation whereby home loan debtors are pitched against the legal resources ECB directed corporations, often in what appears like a David versus Goliath encounter. This is creating unprecedented pressure on Irish courts, which have relatively small numbers of judges. “Irish Circuit Court Judges and Registrars make valiant efforts to explain procedures, processes and even the meaning of legal terms to people who are at best anxious and nervous, and at worst suffering from serious illness, disorientated and emotionally vulnerable and fragile,” he continued. “This research raises important systemic questions in relation to access to justice in Irish courts in mortgage repossession or home loss cases. It also raises important questions as to whether the ECB, as an EU institution, directly supervising the entities instigating these legal actions, is actively and knowingly undermining EU law, especially consumer and human rights law. Access to justice for home loan debtors has never been more important, but sadly, also never so inequitable, unfair and unattainable.” Since 2014, the main euro-area banks have been supervised directly by the ECB in Frankfurt in relation to macro- and micro-prudential rules and capital requirements under the Single Supervisory Mechanism. European Banking Authority and ECB guidance on dealing with mortgage arrears suggest a range of options, but this is largely ignored by ECB supervised entities in Ireland. Dr Kenna pointed to the Irish tracker mortgage scandal, where over 33,000 mortgage consumers were overcharged and which resulted in at least 100 households losing their homes. This has already highlighted the systemic failure of the ECB and the Central Bank of Ireland to effectively promote EU consumer rights, he said. “The Irish tracker mortgage scandal reports reveals that many people experienced wrongful, court approved loss of home,” “This report demonstrates that with the absence of legal representation in two-thirds of ECB directed mortgage arrears cases, it is likley that similar wrongful evictions will take place, with unknown consequences for the households involved.” There are over 30,000 mortgages in arrears for over two years in Ireland, putting these households at far greater risk of losing their homes. Central Bank research shows that those in long-term mortgage arrears are more likely to be single parent (women) borrowers with three or more children; have lower net incomes and have higher mortgage debt service ratios. EU law obliges courts to assess the fairness of mortgage terms under the EU Unfair Contract Terms Directive.  They should also assess the human rights impact of an eviction on all occupants in the home – including children, older people and people with disabilities – under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. ECB directly supervised lenders are piling possession cases into Irish courts,  and are not providing sufficient information for Irish courts to carry out “own motion assessments” for unfair contract terms in mortgages, the report finds. He said that there is a systemic non-application of relevant EU consumer and human rights law, in these proceedings, largely directed by ECB supervised entities. Furthermore, as Irish public bodies, the Central Bank of Ireland, the nationalised banks, and other State agencies involved in the home loss/ possession cases have a “public sector duty” to protect human rights under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. Dr Padraic Kenna presenting the Report Access to Justice and the ECB at NUI Galway  For more information contact: Dr Padraic Kenna at padraic.kenna@nuigalway.ie Read the full press release and case studies here: Access to Justice Press Release The report has been covered in The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Legal News.

Job Opportunities in the European Institutions Irish is an official language of the European Union and EU institutions will be recruiting lawyer-linguists and legal translators with high competence in Irish regularly between now and the end of 2021. Over 100 Irish translators and over 30 Irish lawyer-linguists will be recruited as the derogation on the official status of Irish in the EU comes to an end. These positions are available in the European Parliament, Commission, Council, and Court of Justice, located in Brussels and Luxembourg. Pay and conditions in such positions are excellent. Types of Posts and Basic Requirements Translators translate legislation and other official documents. Lawyer-linguists, who have law degrees and/or professional legal qualifications, ensure that the various language versions of legislation are of the same effect throughout the Union. Lawyer-linguists also translate pleadings and judgments in the Court of Justice. To work as a translator, you must have perfect command of one EU language and a thorough command of at least 2 others, and a degree in any discipline. The selection procedure for translators will focus on your language knowledge and skills in translating, as well as the core competencies required of all EU officials. To work as a lawyer-linguist, you must have a perfect command of one EU language and a thorough command of at least 2 others and a law degree. Previous experience of translating legal texts and additional languages are an asset. For further information, see https://epso.europa.eu/career-profiles/languages_en Languages at NUI Galway School of Law Students in the Corporate Law and Civil Law programmes can study Legal German and Legal French. Spanish is also available to students in the Corporate Law programme.Students in the BA Law can study a range of languages including French, Irish, German, Italian and Spanish. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge offers a Diploma in Irish, which students can study while an undergraduate at a reduced fee for NUI Galway students. Further Information To learn more about opportunities to work in the European Institutions in a translation role, please contact Ursula Connolly in the School of Law at ursula.connolly@nuigalway.ie. Obair Aistriúcháin Dhlíthiúil sna hInstitiúidí Eorpacha Deiseanna Fostaíochta sna hInstitiúidí Eorpacha Is teanga oifigiúil de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh í an Ghaeilge agus beidh institiúidí AE ag earcú dlítheangeolaithe agus aistritheoirí dlí le hardchumas Gaeilge go rialta as seo go deireadh 2021. Tá os cionn 100 aistritheoir Gaeilge agus os cionn 30 dlítheangeolaí Gaeilge le hearcú toisc go bhfuil deireadh á chur leis an maolú ar stádas oifigiúil na Gaeilge san AE. Tá na poist seo ar fáil i bParlaimint na hEorpa, sa Choimisiún Eorpach, sa Chomhairle agus sa Chúirt Bhreithiúnais agus iad lonnaithe sa Bhruiséil agus i Lucsamburg. Tá tuarastal agus coinníollacha oibre den scoth i gceist. Cineálacha Poist agus Bunriachtanais Aistríonn aistritheoirí cáipéisí reachtaíochta chomh maith le cáipéisí oifigiúla eile. Deimhníonn dlítheangeolaithe, a bhfuil céim sa dlí agus/nó cáilíocht ghairmiúil sa dlí acu, go bhfuil na leaganacha éagsúla aistriúcháin den reachtaíocht ag teacht lena chéile ar fud an Aontais. Bíonn aistriúchán ar phléadálacha agus ar bhreithiúnais ar bun ag na dlítheangeolaithe sa Chúirt Bhreithiúnais freisin. Chun post mar aistritheoir a bhaint amach, caithfidh tú eolas críochnúil a bheith agat ar theanga amháin de chuid AE agus sáreolas ar phéire eile, ar a laghad, chomh maith le céim i ndisciplín ar bith. Díreoidh an nós imeachta roghnúcháin d'aistritheoirí ar an eolas atá agat ar theangacha agus ar do chuid scileanna aistriúcháin mar aon leis na príomhinniúlachtaí atá de dhíth ar oifigigh uile AE. Chun post mar dhlítheangeolaí a bhaint amach, caithfidh eolas críochnúil a bheith agat ar theanga amháin de chuid AE agus sáreolas ar phéire eile, ar a laghad chomh maith le céim sa dlí. Beidh buntáiste ag an té a bhfuil taithí aige/aice ar théacsanna dlí a aistriú agus a bhfuil teangacha eile ar a t(h)oil aige/aici. Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, féach https://epso.europa.eu/career-profiles/languages_en Teangacha i Scoil an Dlí, OÉ Gaillimh Is féidir le mic léinn ar an gclár sa Dlí Corparáideach agus sa Dlí Sibhialta staidéar a dhéanamh ar Ghearmáinis an Dlí agus ar Fhraincis an Dlí. Tá an Spáinnis ar fáil do mhic léinn ar an gclár sa Dlí Corparáideach chomh maith. Is féidir le mic léinn ar an BA sa Dlí staidéar a dhéanamh ar raon teangacha lena n-áirítear an Fhraincis, an Ghaeilge, an Ghearmáinis, an Iodáilis agus an Spáinnis.Cuireann Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge ar fáil, agus is féidir le mic léinn fochéime staidéar a dhéanamh air ar tháille laghdaithe do mhic léinn OÉ Gaillimh. Tuilleadh eolais Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil maidir leis na deiseanna atá ann oibriú mar aistritheoir sna hInstitiúidí Eorpacha, déan teagmháil le Ursula Connolly sa Scoil Dlí ag ursula.conolly@nuigalway.ie.

The School of Law officially launched two new postgraduate programmes on Wednesday, February 7, 2018:  LLM (International & Comparative Business Law) & LLM (General). The launch will take place in the O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance. The School was also delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Thomas Courtney as Adjunct Professor. Professor Courtney is a graduate of NUI Galway, Chairman of the Company Law Review Group, Head of Compliance and Governance Practice at Arthur Cox Solicitors and was the driving force behind the Companies Act 2014. Dr Connie Healy, Programme Director of the Masters in International and Comparative Business Law and LL.M General said: "The appointment of Professor Courtney is doubly significant. Firstly, in recognising Professor Courtney's outstanding contribution to the field of Company/Business law and secondly, and importantly for all students considering a Masters in International and Comparative Law at NUI Galway, Professor Courtney's ongoing links with the School of Law means they will benefit from his expertise during small group seminars undertaken as part of their Master's degree. This, together with the opportunity to compete for five commercial legal placements and to engage in skills-based modules enhancing employability, are just some of the unique and outstanding features of the masters in International and Comparative Business Law at NUI Galway."  To coincide with his appointment, Professor Courtney delivered a lecture to students and members of the Galway Solicitors Bar Association entitled: "Effective security for corporate obligations: the creation and registration of company charges."

The Moot Court Module final took place on Saturday 27 January in Galway Courthouse. Congratulations to Patricia Brannick, John Cunningham and Christina Hynes who were the overall winners of the Ross O'Driscoll cup. The moot was presided over by Ms Justice Mary Faherty, judge of the High Court. Special thanks to Tom O'Malley who drafted the moot problem; Shivaun Quinlivan, Conor Hanly and Eoin Daly who acted as mentors for the teams and to Galway Courthouse for facilitating the moot. Find out more about mooting at the School of Law on our .

NUI Galway Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy is publishing a new, user-friendly Guide to help thousands of Irish families in mortgage distress, and facing unfair evictions to understand and advocate for their rights, using vital EU consumer and human rights law. The Guide, 'Your EU Consumer and Human Rights: A Guide for People in Mortgage Distress in Ireland', published jointly with Open Society Foundations' Abusive Lending Practices Project, is also essential reading for people improperly denied tracker mortgages, or those who have been given incorrect interest calculations. ** The Guide is available to download here: A Guide for People in Mortgage Distress in Ireland ** ‌Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway, and one of the authors of the report, says: "Our Guide sets out simply and clearly how existing EU law should be routinely applied to determine, firstly, whether a mortgage contract term is fair and, secondly, whether a possession or eviction notice is a proportional response to any breach of a mortgage term. By applying these EU laws, Irish courts and lawyers can really assist their clients and vulnerable defendants."The authors have stressed that the Guide is for information purposes only. It does not provide legal advice, and is not a substitute for consulting a lawyer. They suggest, within the Guide, that people share it with their solicitors. They also acknowledge, however, that a high number of people facing possession are unrepresented, due to the shortage of free and low cost legal services.The Guide has been created as part of the Open Society Foundations' Abusive Lending Practices Project, in conjunction with the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway, and a group of Irish lawyers and advocates.

The Committee for Employment & Social Security in the states of Guernsey have appointed Dr Shivaun Quinlivan and Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley of the School of Law and the internationally-acclaimed Centre for Disability Law and Policy to advise progress on the development of Disability Discrimination Legislation. They will advise the Committee on which country's legislation would be most appropriate for Guernsey to model its disability discrimination legislation on. They will assess the approach taken in a number of countries based on evaluation criteria which will be agreed by the Committee in consultation with key stakeholders. This will underpin the shape of the future legislation. It is hoped that a model law will be identified by the end of March, following which proposals will be developed regarding how the model legislation should be tailored to the Guernsey context. The Committee is aiming to consult with the public on developed policy proposals before the end of 2018. Further information can be found at the official website at the states of Guernsey.

The School of Law, NUI Galway hosted  a seminar on  Court Reform on Wednesday, 17th of January 2018 in the Aula Maxima. The seminar featured a keynote address from Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Chief Justice of Ireland and a response from Mr Tom O'Malley, Senior Lecturer, School of Law.  Professor Siobhan Mullally, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights,  chaired the seminar. Read more in the Irish Times and the Irish Independent. The event was livestreamed on Facebook and a video of the seminar can be watched below. Download: Keynote Address: Chief Justice Speech 17 Jan 2018 Response: The Allocation of Criminal Jurisdiction

The Centre for Disability Law and Policy are delighted to announce that the 10th International Disability Law Summer School will take place from Monday 18th June Friday 22nd June 2018 in Galway.  The theme will explore Intersectionality. The Summer School seeks to equip participants with the insights and skills necessary to translate the generalities of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into tangible reform for persons with disabilities. We look forward, as usual, to a world-class Faculty and participants from around the globe including persons with disabilities, civil society groups, advocates for disability law reform, academics, lawyers, policy makers and policy analysts. More information and draft programme will follow in the New Year. Information from the 9th International Disability Law Summer School available here:http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/summer_school/about.html REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 2018

 Council of Europe finds that Ireland violated the European Social Charter the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection.The Council of Europe has today upheld a Collective Complaint that Ireland has violated Article 16 of the European Social Charter on the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection. Adequate housing is viewed as an integral element of this right.The Council of Europe held that Ireland failed to take sufficient and timely measures to ensure the right to housing of an adequate standard for a significant number of families living in local authority housing, and therefore there is a violation of Article 16 of the Charter in this respect.This Collective Complaint was facilitated by the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway, working in association with local tenants groups in the main cities, law centres and Non-Government Organisations, involved the submission of detailed evidence of housing conditions on local authority estates, with associated human rights standards. Some 90% of the estimated 130,000 Irish local authority tenant households live on estates.Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway today welcomed this landmark decision, saying: "We have been working with tenants groups, law centres, national and international human rights agencies, over the past five years. Our students at the University researched the European human rights norms. This decision marks a significant historical development, which could enhance the development of Irish State housing policy."The Irish State does not support any national organisation of its tenants, who could be consulted or participate in framing legislation or housing policy, unlike almost every other European country. There was no opportunity, within Ireland, for these tenants to have the collective issues examined in any systematic way. They could submit this European Complaint only through other organisations. Many issues faced by Irish local authority tenants could be resolved by tenants associations.Dr Kenna added: "Of course, nothing in this complaint was intended to diminish respect for the valuable and dedicated work of national and local authority housing professionals, or the committed work of voluntary and community groups and public representatives, who work tirelessly to improve the situation of local authority tenants in Ireland. This issue is more complex. State housing in Ireland generates a surplus after maintenance costs are deducted from rents. A recent report from the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) shows that local authorities generated a surplus of €40 million in 2014, from their housing, used to cross-subsidise other services."The Council of Europe noted that complete statistics on the condition of local authority housing have not been collated since 2002. It also noted that a significant number of regeneration programmes have not been completed, leaving many local authority tenants in unacceptable housing conditions.Significantly, housing standards for 30,000 tenants of approved housing bodies are now regulated by the Residential Tenancies Board, but there is no such regulation of State tenancies. Indeed, the State is both the landlord and the regulator on housing standards in local authority housing.The Irish State must report to the Council of Europe within 12 months on how it has addressed this violation.The full decision and a summary is available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/turin-european-social-charter/-/the-decision-on-the-merits-of-the-complaint-fidh-v-ireland-is-now-public

Professor Mary McAleese was the eminent speaker at a recent Masterclass for PhD law students held at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Professor McAleese was President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011 and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Her area of research is children's rights in Canon Law. Five PhD students from National University of Ireland, Galway were among a group of PhD law students from Universities throughout Ireland who attended the Masterclass. Deirdre Halloran, Luke Hamilton, Maria Corbett, Maria Portuondo, Silvia Gagliardi and Sandra Murphy are all currently engaged in individual doctoral projects under the auspices of the School of Law and The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUIG. Dr. Deirdre McGowan, Head of Law at DIT, chaired the Masterclass and each of the PhD participants gave a short introduction of themselves and their area of research. There was a wide variety of PhD topics and research interests among the students which gave an insight into the diversity of law PhDs currently being undertaken in university law schools around the country. Professor McAleese spoke about her career to date. It is a truly exceptional career that has spanned law, journalism, academics, politics and human rights at national and international levels.  Professor McAleese then spoke about her research into Canon Law and told us about the one year of Medieval Latin that she had to master in the first year of her PhD research! As she spoke her passion and conviction for her research topic shone through. Her own experiences of the PhD process and the importance of the project undertaken was truly motivational. Her PhD research is highly significant, focusing on The Holy See and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. After a fascinating talk Professor McAleese allowed plenty of time for questions and led a discussion of her topic and her research area generally. The afternoon passed quickly and everyone enjoyed Professor McAleese's warmth and generous engagement with us all. The Masterclass series is an innovative initiative of the Royal Irish Academy which allows the participants sit around a table and engage with a high-profile expert and have a face-to-face discussion, rather than in a lecture theatre format. The objective of the masterclass is to engage and motivate early-career researchers and forge relationships and networks.

Congratulations to Kyle Greene, a recent graduate of the BCL International programme, with 1st Class Honours, who has been awarded a place on the prestigious LL.M. European Law programme (2017 – 2018) at the College of Europe, Bruges. The College of Europe is recognised as the leading institution for post-graduate studies in European affairs, with a list of notable alumni that includes former Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former Prime Minister of Finland Alexander Stubb, and the former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as well as a number of diplomats and senior civil servants in European institutions. Kyle spent a period of the summer working as a judicial intern at the Supreme Court of Ireland as part of the Chief Justice's summer internship programme and has also been offered a traineeship with Walkers Global, a preeminent international financial services law firm, through their Cathal Lavelle Summer Internship programme, which is organized in conjunction with the (NUIG) School of Law.

The School of Law is delighted to announce that the Irish Research Council has awarded scholarships to two candidates from the School of Law and its Centres. Congratulations to Jurgita Bukauskaite and her supervisor Dr Ekaterina Yahyaoui-Krivenko, ICHR, and to Sarah Hofmayer and her supervisor Dr Lucy-Ann Buckley. Jurgita's research topic is "Translating Universal Human Rights Commitments on Gender Equality into the Vernacular and in Line with the Istanbul Convention: the Case of Domestic Violence in Ireland". A multidisciplinary socio-legal analysis of the human rights instruments will be conducted with an objective to identify the best practices to promote gender equality, prevent and end violence against women, and domestic violence in particular. This study is timely considering Ireland is preparing to ratify the the Istanbul Convention and will offer informed guidance to the legal professionals and policy makers on the standards necessary to promote and successfully implement the Convention vis-a-vis de facto position of women. Sarah's research topic is "Work Integration Social Enterprises - a tool to further inclusive employment for persons with disabilities?" This research is looking into how WISE can contribute to realizing inclusive employment in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It includes a comparative analysis of the legal and regulatory situation in Austria, Ireland and Italy, taking the experiences of service users and social entrepreneurs via qualitative interviews into account.

Dr Connie Healy organised a Summer School in Law for secondary school students in June 2017. The summer school provided participants with an insight into studying law at NUIG. Students travelled from all over the country to participate. Dr Conor Hanly introduced students to Criminal law, Ursula Connolly explored topical issues in Tort law, Dr Ciara Smyth examined the Irish Asylum system, Dr John Danaher explored Game Theory and the Law and Dr Brian Tobin led a session on the Regulation of Surrogacy in Ireland. The students also had an opportunity to meet with current students of the School of Law and learn about the different undergraduate law programmes that we offer. Dr Máire Áine Ní Mhainnín and Dr Deirdre Byrnes, from the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, spoke about the opportunity to study French, German, Spanish and Nicola Murphy and Dr Conor Hanly outlined the many exciting opportunities there are to study throughout Europe and internationally as part of the undergraduate law programmes offered at NUI Galway. The final session, delivered by Dr Connie Healy, focused on outlining the different careers options available both as members of the legal profession (solicitors and barristers) and alternative careers in law.

Professor Donncha O’Connell of the School of Law at NUI Galway has been appointed by the Government to the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The Commission, which has been established in response to recent controversies involving An Garda Síochána and is modelled on the Patten Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland, will be chaired by Kathleen O’Toole, the Chief of the Seattle Police Department and former Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate. The other members are: Ms Noeline Blackwell, Mr Conor Brady, Dr Johnny Connolly, Dr Vicky Conway, Mr Tim Dalton, Sir Peter Fahy, Dr Eddie Molloy, Ms Tonita Murray, Dr Antonio Oftelie and Ms Helen Ryan.Professor O’Connell recently completed a four-year term as Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway. He is also a Commissioner (part-time) of the Law Reform Commission and served, for four years, as a board member of the Legal Aid Board. He was, previously, a member of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights that advised the EU Commission on a wide range of human rights issues. He was also the Senior Irish member of FRALEX, a legal expert group that advised the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in Vienna for a period of time.Speaking after the announcement of the Commission’s membership, Professor O’Connell said: “It is a great responsibility to be asked to serve on the Commission on the Future of Policing and I look forward to working with Kathleen O’Toole and the other members in an open-minded and rigorous manner so as to make credible and constructive proposals on the future of policing in Ireland.”Professor O’Connell joined the staff of NUI Galway in 1993 having studied at NUI Galway, The Honorable Society of the King’s Inns, Dublin and the University of Edinburgh. He took leave of absence in 1999 to become the first full-time Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) returning to NUI Galway in 2002. He was a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) in the academic year 2009-2010. Professor O’Connell has served on the boards of a number of non-governmental human rights organisations including: INTERIGHTS, Amnesty International – Ireland and the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Ltd. He was also, for nine years, a board member of Druid Theatre Company. More recently, he was a member of the Gender Equality Task Force in NUI Galway chaired by Professor Jane Grimson.

Prof. Ray Murphy, Interim Director, has welcomed the appointment of Prof. Michael O’Flaherty as an Adjunct Professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights.  Michael brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Centre and it is appropriate that he should retain the strong professional and personal links he has with the Centre and School of Law at NUI Galway.  Michael is currently Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights since 16 December 2015. Previously, he was Established Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland, Galway.  He has served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.  From 2004-2012, he was a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, latterly as a Vice-Chairperson.  Michael  has been a member of the UK Foreign Office’s advisory bodies on freedom of expression and the prevention of torture and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ human rights advisory committee. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and has sat on the advisory boards of numerous human rights groups and journals internationally. Michael read law at University College Dublin, theology and philosophy at the Gregorian University, Rome, international relations at the University of Amsterdam and is a Solicitor of the Irish Courts.  He was the principal drafter of the General Comment of the Human Rights Committee on the freedoms of opinion and expression (General Comment 34, adopted in 2011). He was also rapporteur for the development of the Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law with regard to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (the Yogyakarta Principles). He initiated and directed the opening and closing expert consultations of the Dublin Process on the Strengthening of the UN Human Rights Treaty Body System and was rapporteur for its Dublin Outcome Document. He has been a member of the UN Expert Task Force on Human Rights Indicators.  His recent publications include volumes on the law and practice of human rights field operations, the professionalisation of human rights field work and on human rights diplomacy. Professor O’Flaherty came to NUI Galway from the University of Nottingham where he was Professor of Applied Human Rights and Co-director of the Human Rights Law Centre. Previously he held a number of senior posts at the United Nations. He established the UN human rights field missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994) and Sierra Leone (1998) and subsequently guided UN headquarters support to its human rights programmes across the Asia-Pacific region. He has served as Secretary of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and UN human rights advisor for implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. From 2000 to 2002 he chaired the UN reference group on human rights and humanitarian action.

NUI Galway has announced the appointment of Professor Siobhán Mullally as the Established Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway. Professor Mullally will take up her post in September 2017.Professor Mullally is currently a Professor at the School of Law, UCC where she also holds the position of Vice-Head of the College of Business & Law. She was recently elected President of the Council of Europe expert group on human trafficking, GRETA. Professor Mullally is also a Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission and a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.Professor Mullally has worked as an adviser and consultant on human rights, migration and asylum law, gender and justice sector reform for UN bodies and international organisations in many parts of the world, including in Ethiopia, Timor-Leste, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kosovo.  In 2009, she was appointed by the International Bar Association to an inquiry team, examining the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan. As President and member of the Council of Europe anti-trafficking body (GRETA), she has been rapporteur for several country reports, including Hungary, France, Italy, UK and Sweden. Professor Mullally is the Irish member of the Odysseus European network of experts on Asylum and Migration Law.Prior to her appointment at UCC, Professor Mullally held lecturing posts in the UK and Pakistan. She has held visiting positions at several leading universities, including at Harvard Law School, Cornell University, Sydney Law School, National Law School of India, Bangalore. In 2009-2010, she was a Fulbright Scholar and Senior Fellow in Residence at Columbia University, Gender, Sexuality and Law Centre, and inn 2011-2012, she was awarded the prestigious Senior Fernand Braudel Fellowship at the European University Institute, Florence. Announcing the new appointment, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: “We, in the School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights, are delighted that Siobhán Mullally is joining us as a colleague and we look forward the tremendous value that she will undoubtedly add to our work, nationally and internationally. Professor Mullally is an academic of unrivalled renown who, as well as being recognised internationally as one of the foremost scholars in her field, is also a very generous thought leader in civil society. I am certain that she will, in the years ahead, build on the very strong reputation of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway as a world class academic institution.”Professor Mullally said: “The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway is one of the world’s premier human rights centres, with an outstanding track record of research, post-graduate teaching and doctoral education in the field of human rights law. Uniquely situated at the cross-roads of practice, policy and academia, the Centre brings together human rights practitioners and scholars from across the world in a dynamic intellectual environment. At this critical time for human rights globally, I look forward to working with colleagues at the Centre and School of Law, to contribute to informed policy debates on many pressing human rights challenges  - from gender equality, women’s human rights and social justice, to refugee and migrant protection.”

The School of Law, NUI Galway hosted a highly successful international conference entitled ‘The Future is Now! - eConveyancing and Title Registration at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway on the 7th and 8th April 2017. The conference brought together national and international experts from around the world in the area of eConveyancing and title registration. The conference was chaired by the Honourable Miss Justice Mary Laffoy of the Supreme Court and Mr. Justice Michael Peart of the Court of Appeal. Keynote speaker was Professor J.C.W. Wylie, Irish expert in land and conveyancing law. Pictured at the conference were, from left, Dr Padraic Kenna, NUI Galway School of Law, conference organiser, Sandra Murphy, NUI Galway School of Law, conference organiser, Professor J.C.W. Wylie, Keynote Speaker and Peter McGarvey, Solicitor, RDJ, conference sponsors.

Friday, 26 May, to Friday, 9 June Applications are currently being accepted from candidates who 1) are now completing their final year exams as BCL or LLB students, or 2) are presently pursuing LLM or PhD degrees or 3) are BCL, LLB or LLM graduates of the classes of 2014, 2015, 2016.  There are up to five places open to take two short modules taught by American law school professors – Emerging Issues in EU Business Law and Policy and Fundamental Rights: A Criminal Law Perspective – alongside American law school students.  Guest lectures will be provided by experts from practice and academia and there will be class trips to sites relevant to the topics covered in the two modules.  This programme affords a unique opportunity to discuss and debate some of the major legal and non-legal issues that animate current global public discourse in a US law school setting here in Galway.  There will be no fees for the successful candidates and a certificate will be awarded to those who complete the two modules. To apply, interested candidates must send a detailed cover letter outlining their reasons for seeking a place on the programme and an up to date CV (including all academic results – transcripts not required) to Larry.Donnelly@nuigalway.ie by 5 PM on Friday, 5 May.  Those who have questions should contact either Larry Donnelly or Conor Hanly (Conor.Hanly@nuigalway.ie).

The School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture 2017 takes place on Friday 31st March at 8pm in the Aula Maxima (Lower). This year, the Annual Distinguished Lecture will be delivered by Judge Síofra O’Leary of the European Court of Human Rights (biographical details below) and chaired by Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley of the Irish Supreme Court. The title of the lecture is: “A Tale of Two Cities: the Protection of Fundamental Rights in Strasbourg and Luxembourg”. This is our eighth Annual Distinguished Lecture. Previous speakers include: Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University, Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University, Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court with Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly of the Irish Supreme Court, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Professor Nicholas Canny. A reception which follows the lecture in the Staff Club of the Quadrangle, NUIG. This is the School’s farewell occasion for final year students where they are introduced  to graduates and practitioners. Biographical details of speaker: In July 2015 Síofra O'Leary, BCL (University College Dublin), PhD (European University Institute) was sworn in as a Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, elected in respect of Ireland. Prior to joining the European Court of Human Rights, Judge O’Leary worked for 18 years at the Court of Justice of the European Union, where she served as a référendaire and Chef de cabinet for Judges Aindrias Ó Caoimh (IRL), Fidelma Macken (IRL) and Federico Mancini (IT). She later ran part of that Court’s Research Directorate. Judge O’Leary has been a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges for many years where she has taught LLM courses on EU law and the individual, EU Social Law and Policy as well as a judicial workshop. She has, in recent years, been a member of the Editorial Board of the Common Market Law Review and is now a member of both its Advisory Board and the Board of the Irish Centre for European Law. In 2016 she was elected an Honorary Bencher of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns. Before joining the Court of Justice of the European Union, Síofra O’Leary was the Assistant Director for the Centre of European Legal Studies at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Emmanuel College. She was previously a Visiting Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University College Dublin, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cádiz, Spain and a Research Associate at the Institute for Public Policy Research in London. She is the author of two books entitled The Evolving Concept of Community Citizenship (Kluwer, 1996) and Employment Law at the European Court of Justice (Hart Publishing, 2001) and has published extensively in academic journals and EU law monographs on the protection of fundamental rights in the EU, EU employment law, the free movement of persons and services and EU citizenship generally.

Half-day Conference: 'The Judiciary, the State and Social Change' The School of Law, under the auspices of the LLM in Public Law, is hosting a half-day conference on April 5th on the theme "The Judiciary, the State and Social Change". We are hosting three speakers who have recently authored or edited books on the Irish judiciary: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, author of 'The Politics of Judicial Selection in Ireland' (Four Courts Press, 2016). Tom O'Malley, School of Law Dr. Tom Hickey (Dublin City University), co-editor of 'Judges, Politics and the Irish Constitution' (Manchester University Press, 2017). The conference takes place from 2.30-5.15pm in ENG-G047 (Lee Theatre). All are welcome to attend, but please register your attendance by emailing eoin.daly@nuigalway.ie with 'Judiciary conference' in the subject line.

NUI Galway to host event on the Trump presidencyThe Moore and Whitaker Institutes and the School of Law at NUI Galway will host an event on Wednesday, 22 March, entitled “President Donald Trump: The First Sixty Days and Beyond”.  The event will take place in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall (Upper Aula Maxima) at 5.30pm in the University’s Quadrangle.The panel discussion will feature five speakers who will provide various perspectives - political, human rights, historical, economics and more - on Donald Trump's election and his time in the White House. This will be followed by an interactive audience question and answer session. A reception with light refreshments will precede the event and begin at 5pm.Mary Regan, a native of Moycullen, Co. Galway and well-known political journalist and columnist for the Sunday Business Post who also appears frequently in the broadcast media, will moderate the event.Speaking on the evening will be: Professor Alan Ahearne, Director of the Whitaker Institute, NUI Galway, and former special adviser to the Minister for Finance; Professor Daniel Carey, Director of the Moore Institute, NUI Galway; Dr Kathleen Cavanaugh, Lecturer, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway; Larry Donnelly, Lecturer, School of Law, NUI Galway, and political commentator; Karlin Lillington, Journalist and Columnist, The Irish Times. Commenting ahead of the event, Larry Donnelly, NUI Galway said: “In a year full of major news events, the 2016 US presidential election attracted a phenomenal amount of interest in Ireland. The early days of President Trump’s administration have been unpredictable and, in many ways, unprecedented.  On 22 March, people here in Galway, as well as the staff and students of NUI Galway, will have a unique opportunity to delve behind the tweets and explore the policy implications of different facets of the Trump presidency, in an uncertain era of change and upheaval in the US and throughout the western world.”The event is free and open to the public, however those who wish to attend must pre-register via Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/trumpgalway.

Charles O’Mahony, Lecturer in Law and Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy. Published by Clarus Press, Disability Law and Policy: An Analysis of the UN Convention undertakes a multidisciplinary examination of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.The rights-based perspective on disability is a relatively new lens through which disability law and policy is considered. This is despite the fact that persons with disabilities are often described as the world’s largest minority. There are approximately 1 billion persons with disabilities in the world (15 percent of the world’s population). This book is an edited volume of essays that undertakes a multidisciplinary examination of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Dr Charles O’Mahony said: “The UN Convention requires law and policy reform throughout the world and this book identified what state parties need to do to comply with international human rights law. This is particularly relevant for Ireland being was one of the first states to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.  However it is now the only EU member state not to have ratified.”Disability Law and Policy: An Analysis of the UN Convention has evolved from an event entitled 'Global PhD and Researchers Colloquium on Disability Law’ and Policy organised by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway. The Colloquium was organised in conjunction with the Burton Blatt Institute, University of Syracuse and the University of Haifa, Israel.

Dr Padraic Kenna of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy had an op ed in the Irish Times of 23 February on a new bill to provide human rights protections in home reposession cases.  The Keeping People in their Homes Bill 2017 was presented for the First Reading by Kevin Moran TD on Thursday 24th February 2017. The Bill provides Irish courts with a statutory base to effectively conduct proportionality assessments in possession orders related to mortgages arrears. Read more: Text of the Bill: Keeping People in their Homes Bill 2017 Explanatory Memorandum: Keeping People in their Homes Bill 2017 Memorandum

The Moot Court Module final took place on Saturday 28 January with the victorious team of Frances Whelan and Emily Keilty narrowly overcoming Darra Deane and Jonathan Harte in a tense final moot which exhibited everything that is positive about mooting.  The judge for the initial rounds was Tom O'Malley; Ms. Justice Marie Baker of the High Court presided over the final round. The School would like to thank both judges, in particular Ms Justice Baker who travelled down from Dublin, for their time and effort. Special tribute to all the mooters for their application, effort and enthusiasm over the last five months which culminated in some fantastic mooting. Thanks to all the members of staff who so generously gave of their time, in particular Tom O’Malley for giving a guest lecture on court etiquette and especially Dr. Ian Walsh from Theatre Studies who gave a practical and interactive class on public speaking. The team mentors were Ursula Connolly, Dr. Eoin Daly, Larry Donnelly, Nicola Murphy and Dr. Brian Tobin.  Eoin and Brian’s teams competed in the final, with Brian’s team emerging victorious. For more photos, visit the photo gallery on our Facebook page.

Dr Rónán Kennedy, a lecturer in the School of Law and a researcher in the Ryan Institute, has been appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a three year term. This role involves making recommendations to the Agency on a wide range of topics, including staffing, service provision, standards and guidelines, and research and work programmes. The Committee can also make recommendations to the Minister for Community, Climate Action, and Environment on the functions, financing, and activities of the Agency. Rónán’s research focuses on the relationship between information and communications technology and environmental regulation, and he is currently leading a project to implement a blockchain-based currency for the Cloughjordan ecovillage. He is a graduate of University College Galway, NUI Galway, the King’s Inns, New York University and University College London. He has extensive practical experience in the information technology field, but was also Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice of Ireland, Mr Justice Ronan Keane, from 2000 to 2004. During this time, he was editor of “The Supreme Court of Ireland: A History”, first editor of the Judicial Studies Institute Journal, and was involved in a number of initiatives to expand the use of information technology in the courts. Before joining the Law School at NUI Galway, he taught environmental law and public international law in the University of Limerick. Welcoming the appointment, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: “The appointment of Dr Kennedy to this critically important Committee of the EPA speaks highly of his established expertise as an environmental lawyer and is a very well-deserved recognition of the contribution that he makes as an academic of the highest probity. It is extremely gratifying to see another member of the School of Law associated with a public body, building upon the connections already established by others with state bodies such as the Law Reform Commission and the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission.”  

Learn “Street Law” - an approach to teaching practical law to grassroots audiences using interactive teaching methodologies (for more information, please see http://www.streetlaw.org/en/home) – from its founder, Professor Richard Roe of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, and representatives of the Law Society of Ireland at a three day workshop in Letterkenny from Thursday, 12 January, to Saturday, 14 January.  A small number of places are available for students who wish to receive “hands on” training from American and Irish experts and to enhance their communication skills at the workshop. Interested students should contact Larry Donnelly as soon as possible.  Students should email queries to larry.donnelly@nuigalway.ie  To apply, students must submit a short covering letter and an up to date curriculum vitae to larry.donnelly@nuigalway.ie. Two important points: 1) Participants in the workshop will have all travel and accommodation expenses paid; 2) Students who attend the workshop must, in teams of two, deliver a small number (four or five) of “Street Law” trainings (45 minutes long) on timely and interesting legal issues to local secondary school students in the coming months.  This will require that they undergo Garda vetting.

This one day workshop, funded by the Irish Research Council New Foundations scheme and co-organised by NUI Galway School of Law, FEASTA, and Cultivate, explored the possible future applications of blockchain technology in the development and coherence of sustainable communities. Videos from the event are available on YouTube.What exactly is the likely nature of blockchain disruption? Will it be isolated in the #fintech community or will it reach into the “real” economy? How does the trustless mindset behind cryptocurrencies map on to the essentially trustful aspirations of sustainable communities? Will explicit transparent contract conditions assist community development and coherence or act as a barrier? How can we build bridges and meaningful relationships between the tech and sustainability communities? Will the emergence of new institutional structures have a deep effect on society? This workshop sought to explore all of these questions, and more. The morning presentations provided a series of differing perspectives on these themes – of currency design, community activism, technology limitations, social factors and the design of new institutions. The afternoon discussions were aimed at solidifying a shared understanding from the morning sessions, and mapping out key future research questions.The day was introduced by Dr Rónán Kennedy of the School of Law, NUI Galway, who is leading the Cloughpenny Project to create a blockchain-based local currency for the Cloughjordan ecovillage. The keynote speaker was Professor Joshua Fairfield of Washington & Lee University School of Law. He explained that for him, what was most interesting about blockchain was not the potential for automation but for co-ordination. However, if blockchain removes the need for trust, it may be damaging to communities in the long term, as face-to-face interactions remain essential to human co-existence. He asked if a a dis-intermediated community is a contradiction in terms.Professor Peadar Kirby of University of Limerick and Cloughjordan eco-village placed the discussion in a wider context of debates on sustainability and queried why technology is so often touted as a solution to challenges such as climate change. He highlighted the extent to which the actions that are taken fit into the dominant socio-economic paradigm and vision of ‘progress’, treating these challenges as techno-scientific rather than addressing issues of consumption, globalisation, and carbon-intensity. He presented an alternative vision of communities such as Cloughjordan eco-village as a local ecosystem of innovation with a vibrant but low-energy community life.Dr Graham Barnes of Feasta discussed the long history of responses to monetary dysfunction, both before the advent of blockchain technology and afterwards, focusing particularly on schemes of mutual credit. He highlighted how Bitcoin is probably not a good tool for this and may prove ultimately unsuccessful but has opened up a space for discussion. He put forward a framework of questions which could be considered when designing an alternative currency, such as the extent to which the scheme is permissionless, distributed, immutable, anonymous, trustless, and algorithmic.Dr Rónán Kennedy spoke about his experiences with the Cloughpenny project. This was originally to be based on Ethereum, but the failure of the Distributed Autonomous Organisation required some re-thinking, including re-orienting towards the Colu.com suite. However, the underlying tools proved difficult to use, even for those with technical skills. He concluded with some reflections drawing on the writings of Robert Herian, asking if blockchain is really as revolutionary as it is presented or simply another iteration in neo-liberal economic models.Dr Gar Hynes of Hewlett Packard Enterprise gave a very practical presentation on the realities of blockchain technology highlighting how slow and energy-intensive it can be in day-to-day use, and outlined a set of circumstances that should be true to ensure that it is an appropriate tool.At lunchtime, participants enjoyed a brief tour of the eco-village and the afternoon was spent in group work and discussions, using the IdeaWriting method, to generate potential research projects for the application of blockchain for sustainable communities. The day was closed by reflections from Dr Paolo Dini of the London School of Economics, who presented a sociological understanding of monetary theory. He discussed the day’s presentations, highlighting recurrent themes such as trust, consumerism, the need for alternative means of exchange, the slow pace of social change, and the cost involved in blockchain. He also drew on Richard Douthwaite’s work on money and sustainability to discuss where alternative ideas might work, focusing on the positive experience of the Sardex project.

Careers in Law Week 2016 takes place on the week commencing Monday 26th September 2016. This is an initiative by the School of Law in conjunction with the Career Development Centre. Students are strongly encouraged to to attend as many of these events as possible and while they are open to all law students, it is especially important that those nearing the completion of their degrees attend in large numbers. The Careers in Law Week is an invaluable opportunity for students to begin to understand the environment in which they will compete with graduates from this and other institutions. ** Download PDF for reference ** Careers in Law Week 2016 Monday, 26th September (please note change of venue from previous years) 12:30-1:30 PM: Workshop: “How to succeed at group interviews” – Arthur Cox – Room 214, Orbsen Building 2:00-3:10 PM: Law Firms Fair: Partner and Trainee panel discussions, Followed by Q&A – IT 250 3:30-5:00 PM: Law Firms Fair: Meet representatives from Ireland’s leading law firms – Foyer, Orbsen Building (Refreshments provided) Tuesday, 27th September 5:00-6:00 PM: Workshop: “Qualifying as a solicitor in the UK” – Seán Hernon (UK-qualified solicitor and NUI Galway graduate) – THB-G010 Hardiman Building Wednesday, 28th September 1:00-2:00 PM: Workshop: “So you want to be a law lecturer?” – Dr. John Danaher, School of Law, NUI Galway – THB-G010 Hardiman Building 5:00-6:00 PM: Workshop: “Qualifying as a barrister in Ireland” – Marcella Higgins, Registrar, King’s Inns and Anne Marie Giblin BL, Lecturer (Part-time), School of Law, NUI Galway – THB-G010 Hardiman Building  Thursday, 29th September 1:00-2:00 PM: Workshop: “Alternative careers with a law degree” – Careers Office, NUI Galway and Grant Thornton Ireland – AMB G065 Arts Millennium Building

On May 23rd-24th the School of Law and the Irish Center of Human Rights hosted the 7th Annual Conference of the Irish Society of Comparative Law. It was a gathering of scholars from all over the world (30 countries) discussing meaningfully a variety of topics that are of current interest from a comparative perspective. Professor Mark Tushnet from Harvard Law School was the keynote speaker starting the discussion with a particularly thought-provoking talk on the Boundaries of Comparative Law. The Conference hosted panels on a number of topics of contemporary interest such as Constitutional Responses to Terrorism, the current “Migration Crisis”, the concept of Human Dignity, Comparative Constitutional Law issues, the methodology of Comparative Law more broadly, other topics stemming from private law, criminal law and criminal justice, public law, legal education and international law. The discussions were most engaging and fruitful. Sincerest thanks to all participants for a lively and memorable event. Organizers of the event were Dr Ekaterina Yahyaoui-Krivenko, Ms Denise Gormley and Dr Ioanna Tourkochoriti. A full photo gallery of the event can be found on Facebook.

NUI Galway researcher launches final report on home evictions in the 28 EU Member States, including Ireland, and calls for better legal protection for those at risk Few EU Member States (including Ireland) monitor and record evictions in a systematic or holistic way - preventing an effective response In Spain, Ireland and the UK, most evictions are from private rented housing Limited reliable public data on legal evictions in half of EU Member States Courts should be obliged to involve social support agencies in repossession cases Significant absence of research, data or reports on illegal evictions from the informal or ‘black’ private rented housing market, particularly in relation to documented and undocumented migrants, asylum-seekers, Roma, Travellers, and some people with disabilities NUI Galway today launched the results of an EU-wide study on home evictions across all tenures. The report shows that evictions arising from increased rents are often greater than mortgage evictions, even in Ireland. The report also highlighted the lack of human rights impact in eviction cases and calls for an EU-wide adoption of best practices, such as Poland’s ‘No evictions to nowhere’ policy. The two-year research pilot, ‘Promoting protection of the right to housing - Homelessness prevention in the context of evictions’ was led by Dr Padraic Kenna, lecturer in the School of Law and Project Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway. It was a collaborative project with a number of European Universities and agencies, including FEANTSA – the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless. Commenting on the Final Report, Dr Padraic Kenna said: “The findings of this research show the need to integrate accepted eviction-related housing rights standards into national and EU legal and policy norms. Creating a legal obligation on courts and other agencies, involved in possession proceedings, to promptly engage with housing and social support agencies would be a valuable first step in preventing homelessness.” In 2008 the financial crisis had a major impact on housing systems across Europe, with dramatic increases in mortgage arrears, debt, rental costs and utility arrears. EU Member States responded in different ways, within both their financial and housing systems. This research covered the period after the crisis. The Final Report examines and analyses available data and trends on evictions, identifying risk factors, links with homelessness, and the availability and effectiveness of preventative interventions. National experts across the 28 EU States provided all available local data and information. The Report found that constitutional, human rights and consumer law protection on the inviolability of and respect for home, is applied in a fragmentary and inconsistent manner, thus denying EU citizens equal access to their rights. An unknown number of evictions take place outside the judicially supervised process, affecting many people with deficits in the local language, support networks or resources, particularly those in the informal or ‘black’ rental market. There is a significant absence of research, data or reports on illegal evictions from the informal or black rental market, particularly in relation to documented and undocumented migrants, asylum-seekers, Roma, Travellers, some people with disabilities, and others. Contrary to popular assumptions, in Spain, Ireland and the UK, most evictions are from private rented housing rather than mortgaged properties. EU data showed that the highest housing cost overburden in 2013 among poor households occurred in Greece (91%), while some 50% or more of poor households had utility arrears in Bulgaria and Croatia, with over 60% in Greece and Hungary, a significant eviction risk factor. The most comprehensive analysis of eviction risk factors is found in Denmark, with studies on risk of eviction among one million households in private and public rented housing. This and other research shows that evicted households initially seek help and support from family and friends. Up to one quarter may eventually rely on homeless services, which are only widely available in north and western European countries and cities. The critical issue is preventing those evicted from becoming homeless. The Final Report suggests that access to rapid rehousing schemes, protected minimum incomes and the possibility of “fresh start” options are key factors. Debt advice and legal assistance are most effective measures in preventing rental evictions. In terms of effective preventative interventions, the report highlights adequate supply of affordable housing, legal advice and debt restructuring as significant. The Final Report sets out eighteen recommendations for Member States and the EU, ranging from protection and promotion of housing rights, improved housing policies, responsible lending and areas requiring further research. To read the full report visit: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=7892&type=2&furtherPubs=yes

Ruth Cormican, from Clarinbridge, Co. Galway and LLB student at NUI Galway’s School of Law, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study for an LLM in International Human Rights Law at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. This is one of the most prestigious programmes of its kind in the United States.  Ruth is especially interested in studying the application of human rights laws and norms to transnational corporations. Following her studies, she hopes to engage in field-work with a human rights NGO or with the Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ruth graduated with first-class honours from the BA (Law) programme at NUI Galway in 2015, during which she spent a year at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. She has received academic prizes for her fluency in French, and was the recipient of the Thomson-Reuters-Round Hall Law Prize in 2012, and the Lexis Nexis Butterworths Law Prize in 2015.  Ruth will graduate from the LLB programme at NUI Galway in October. She is spending the summer on a summer internship programme, now in its third year, run by the School of Law at NUI Galway in partnership with the Suffolk University Law School in Boston. Ruth will spend the summer working with two criminal justice NGOs: Prisoner Legal Services and the New England Innocence Project. Congratulating Ruth on the Scholarship, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of NUI Galway’s School of Law, said: “It is a great credit to Ruth, and my colleagues who taught her, that her academic accomplishments have been recognised in this way. The Fulbright scheme is the gold standard of academic recognition and for someone as young as Ruth to be the recipient of a Fulbright award augurs extremely well for her future. We are immensely proud of her and wish her continued success.”

Professor Mark Tushnet, a world-renowned constitutional expert from Harvard Law School, will be the keynote speaker at the seventh Annual Conference of the Irish Society of Comparative Law (ISCL). This conference, organised by the NUI Galway’s School of Law in collaboration with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, will be held from 23-24 May at Áras Moyola, NUI Galway.The theme of the conference is ‘(Dis)Locating Comparative Law’ and will explore the role of space or place in the comparative law arena, in an increasingly interconnected world. The conference will question the traditional narratives of comparative law in the context of the increasing complexity of legal orders within, between and beyond states. Speaker panels will address various comparative topics such as: Privacy and Responses to Terrorism, Human Dignity, Comparative Constitutional Law, and a host of other topics stemming from private law, criminal law and criminal justice, public law, legal education and international law.Professor Mark Tushnet is a William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. He is the co-author of four casebooks, including the most widely used casebook on constitutional law, has written numerous books, including a two-volume work on the life of Justice Thurgood Marshall and, most recently, Advanced Introduction to Comparative Constitutional Law, In the Balance: The Roberts Court and the Future of Constitutional Law, Why the Constitution Matters, and Weak Courts, Strong Rights: Judicial Review and Social Welfare Rights in Comparative Perspective, and has edited several others. Professor Tushnet was President of the Association of American Law Schools in 2003.  In 2002 he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His presentation for this year’s Irish Society of Comparative Law Conference is entitled The Boundaries of Comparative Law.Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway said: “It is a great honour for the School of Law to host the Annual Conference of the Irish Society of Comparative Law and, in particular, to welcome Professor Tushnet to NUI Galway. The comparative approach to law is of critical importance at this particular stage in the development of the rule of law nationally and internationally. The School of Law in NUI Galway and its research centres have always been outward-looking and internationally-aware and this event will provide a very rich opportunity for speakers and participants to make the most of that tradition.”The full programme can be downloaded here: ISCL Conference 2016 Program. For further information is available at http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=218

‌Conference announcement  - Law, Revolution and SovereigntyReflections on the Legal Legacy of the 1916 Rising & Declaration of Independence April 9-10, 2016 As part of NUI Galway’s commemorative programme for the centenary of the 1916 Rising, the School of Law will host a conference to consider the legacy of Irish independence and sovereignty in the domain of law and of legal thought. In particular, the conference will address: The distinctive character of the legal order that developed post-independence. The impact of revolutionary ideals in the Irish legal and constitutional system. Constitutional experimentation and evolution in independent Ireland Concepts of nationalism and popular sovereignty and their impact in the domain of social and penal policy. Saturday April 9, 11amSunday April 10, 10.45am Venue: Aula Maxima, Main Quadrangle, NUI Galway  The conference is open to the public, but please register with M.PORTUONDO1@nuigalway.ie. CPD points will be available. The conference programme can be downloaded here: 1916 Conference Programme For queries contact conor.hanly@nuigalway.ie or eoin.daly@nuigalway.ie.

The appointment has been announced of Dr Carol Coulter, director of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, as an honorary adjunct professor in the School of Law, NUI Galway. Carol Coulter graduated from Trinity College with BA (Mod) and PhD degrees in English. She also holds a Diploma in Legal Studies and an MPhil in Law. She became a journalist and joined The Irish Times in 1986, working as a reporter, acting London Editor, acting Northern Ireland editor, deputy news editor, legal affairs correspondent, legal affairs editor and assistant editor (simultaneously). As legal affairs editor she initiated and edited the “Law Matters” page in The Irish Times as well as writing extensively there on the courts, law, human rights and justice. She won a number of journalism awards, including Campaigning Journalist of the Year in 1990, Legal Print Journalist of the Year in 2000 and 2012, and also overall Legal Journalist of the Year in 2012. From 2006 to 2007 she took leave of absence from The Irish Times to run a pilot project on private family law for the Courts Service, initiating the publication of reports on family law proceedings in Ireland. These were published in quarterly magazines, Family Law Matters, from 2007 to 2009 and on the Courts Service website. This pilot project resulted in a Report and Recommendations for the Board of the Courts Service, published in October 2007. Many of the recommendations were implemented.In October 2012 she left The Irish Times to take up a position as founder and director of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, which is examining the public child care law system. To date this has published over 300 reports of child care cases in the District Court and High Court, and two Interim Reports, including statistics and analysis, on its website, www.childlawproject.ie. A third and Final Report, with recommendations, was published in November 2015.Dr Coulter has lectured extensively in the cultural, social and legal areas, both in Ireland and internationally, including in the UK, the US and Japan, and has also published a wide range of essays and books in these areas. From 1992 to 2004 she edited the Undercurrents pamphlet series for Cork University Press.The Child Care Law Reporting Project, directed by Dr. Carol Coulter, is now in Phase 2 following the publication of the Final Report from Phase 1 in November 2015. This phase will combine reporting on a reduced number of cases with an in-depth analysis of a number of highly complex and lengthy cases. It is funded jointly by Galway University Foundation and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs for two years. A formal Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed to guide the implementation of the Phase 2 project. The partners in this Agreement are: The Child Care Law Reporting Project, NUI Galway School of Law, Galway University Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Tusla, Free Legal Advice Centres and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs. The Agreement provides for the establishment of a Research Coordinating Group (which includes the Head of the School of Law) which will guide the development of the research programme and assist in identifying ways of implementing the recommendations that arise from the project within the two years.Galway University Foundation has negotiated with Atlantic Philanthropies to provide €70,000 in funding for the project and has a separate agreement in place with FLAC, which provides technical and administrative assistance to the CCLRP, for the management of these funds on behalf of the project.As well as participating in the Research Coordinating Group NUIG will assist the project through a separate Galway University Foundation-funded Hardiman Scholarship to the School of Law. The scholarship, awarded to the School of Law and linked to the CCLRP, is for a PhD to be supervised jointly by Dr. Connie Healy of the School and Dr. Carol Coulter. The PhD will look at international best practice examples of Child Protection systems that successfully address the needs of vulnerable children coming before the child protection courts. The aim will be to complement and add significant value to the research arising from Phase 2 of the Child Care Law Reporting Project. The Scholarship has been awarded to Maria Corbett who has worked with the Children's Rights Alliance for many years.Announcing the appointment, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUIG, said: “Our association with Professor Carol Coulter is very exciting and speaks directly and unapologetically to the kind of societal impact that the School of Law at NUI Galway aims to achieve. Through her involvement as a doctoral co-supervisor and as a public figure of considerable standing we hope to pursue with her valuable and exciting projects in the years ahead.In accepting the appointment, Professor Coulter said: ”I am delighted to be associated with NUIG School of Law which has a well-deserved reputation for teaching and scholarship in public interest law and human rights, of which children’s rights are an important part. I look forward to working with Professor O’Connell, Dr Healy and Ms Corbett in further developing this area of law and generally contributing to the work and public profile of the School.”

The Moot Court Module final took place on Saturday 6 February with the victorious team of Aisling Keenan and Niall Gaffney narrowly overcoming Orla Clissman and Andrew Barr in a tense final moot which exhibited everything that is positive about mooting before an initial bench comprising of Dr. Ronán Kennedy, and Mrs. Justice Carmel Stewart in the Final. The School would like to thank both judges, in particular Mrs. Justice Stewart who travelled down from Dublin, for their time and effort. Special tribute to the ten mooters for their application, effort and enthusiasm over the last five months which culminated in some fantastic mooting. Thanks to all the members of staff who so generously gave of their time, in particular Tom O’Malley for giving a guest lecture on court etiquette and especially Professor Patrick Lonergan from Theatre Studies who gave a practical and interactive class on public speaking. The team mentors were Ursula Connolly, Dr. Eoin Daly, Larry Donnelly, Nicola Murphy and Dr. Brian Tobin, with Ursula and Brian’s teams battling in the final and Ursula’s team emerging victorious.

The School of Law at NUI Galway is to host a major conference on surrogacy and the law on 12 March 2016. Among the speakers is the world-leading child psychologist, Professor Susan Golombok, Director of the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge. Also presenting are Dr Kirsty Horsey, an academic and member of the Surrogacy UK Working Group on Surrogacy Law Reform, and NUI Galway alumna, Deirdre Fottrell QC, who has acted in a number of leading surrogacy cases that came before the superior courts in the UK. Other speakers include Professor Deirdre Madden from UCC and Dr Andrea Mulligan, a barrister and academic. The conference is being organised by Dr Brian Tobin, a family law expert at the School of Law, NUI Galway, who provided legal expertise on the assisted reproduction provisions contained in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality.       Announcing the conference, Dr Tobin stated: “Ireland has yet to enact legislation regulating surrogacy. Laws proposed in 2014 by the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, were scrapped later that year as the Government felt that further consultation was required. However, there is a concern that the issue of surrogacy could lose priority. This conference is therefore timely and designed to bring together experts in the field with a view to forging a framework for the regulation of surrogacy in Ireland.”

The Conference of Local Authority Solicitors Bar Association (LASBA) was hosted by the School of Law, NUI Galway last month. LASBA represents in-house solicitors of the Local Authorities in Cork City and County, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, County Galway, County Kerry, South Dublin, and County Wicklow. Law Agents for other counties also attended the conference. LASBA is officially recognised by the Law Society of Ireland as a representative bar association. This conference links with the Law and Local Government Module within the LLM in Public Law at NUI Galway, now in its 7th year. It is the only such dedicated law course in the country. The work of local authority solicitors spans the 700+ activities of local authorities, from land purchase, planning, regulatory enforcement, ensuring due process in local government activities, public procurement contracts, defending claims against the authority. It even extends to such areas as regulating trans-frontier shipments going though Irish ports under the Basel Convention. There are many new challenges, not least in the growing EU law provisions impacting on local government, but also in relation to balancing the roles of regulator and service provider in key areas, such as waste management. The growing relevance of human rights law, too, is impacting on local authority law. Few lawyers operate in such a legally complex environment.

The Irish Society of Comparative Law (ISCL) and the School of Law of the NUI Galway together with the Irish Centre for Human Rights are pleased to announce the seventh annual conference of the ISCL to be held in Galway on 23- 24 May 2016. The keynote speaker will be Prof Mark Tushnet of Harvard Law School. Theme: In an increasingly interconnected world, where geographies of protection are premised on the centrality of national territory and state sovereignty, the importance of being cognisant of the concept of location/geography/space/place in the comparative law arena, cannot be underestimated. Does comparative law continue to contrast the laws of states, or is there now, a new focus? What effect does this have on the diversity inherent in plural legal systems? How are different types of laws (state/customary/indigenous/international) (dis/re)located? How does this (dis)location impact our analysis of these laws, including any effort at being a ‘comparativist’? What does this mean for places of transience not holding enough significance to be regarded as legal places? This conference questions traditional narratives of comparative law, in the context of the increasing complexity of legal orders within, between and beyond states.The conference aims to encourage theoretical and empirical interdisciplinary reflection on comparative law and space/place, to explore why location matters, and ensure cognisance of the sensitivities of location in comparative law. However, any comparative topic may be proposed, eg private law, criminal law and criminal justice, public or constitutional law, legal education, etc. In addition, proposals on European or International law will also be considered. The deadline for receipt of proposals is Monday, 21 March 2016. Proposals by both members and non-members, as well as by professional academics and graduate students are welcome. Proposals should be maximum 500 words in length and be sent to iscl2016@gmail.com. The conference fee will be €60 for members of the ISCL and €120 for non-members (membership fees are €60, student membership is free). The ISCL regrets that it cannot cover travel or accommodation expenses. All additional information about the conference will be posted in due course at http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=218 The Organising Committee of the conference is composed of Dr Ekaterina Yahyaoui Krivenko, Ms Denise Gormley and Dr Ioanna Tourkochoriti. This information is also available to download in this PDF: ISCL Conference 2016 Call for Papers.

Dr Bryan McMahon, retired Judge of the High Court and former part-time Professor of Law at NUI Galway, recently launched a new report, 'Clinical Legal Education in Ireland: Progress and Potential'. The report was written by Larry Donnelly, Lecturer and Director of Clinical Legal Education in the School of Law, and was commissioned by the Dublin-based Free Legal Advice Centres Ltd (FLAC) and Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA). Clinical legal education, which has at its core “learning by doing” and the furtherance of the public interest, exposes law students to how the law works in practice. In Irish clinical legal education programmes, law students work with law firms, barristers, non-governmental organisations, government bodies and in related fields. They are awarded academic credit for and assessed upon their performance in these “real world” placements. The School of Law has been nationally and internationally recognised for its clinical legal education programme, which was founded by Mr Donnelly in the academic year 2005-2006. The report includes statistics on the existing clinical legal education programmes in Ireland; interviews with directors of clinical programmes, supervisors and law students; examinations of two clinical programmes in the UK; and a series of reflections and recommendations for the future development of clinical legal education in Ireland. Speaking at the launch, Larry Donnelly said: “This report is the first attempt to critically analyse recent advances in clinical legal education in Ireland and I hope that it will spur a discussion about the future among all of the relevant stakeholders. Clinical legal education has the unique capacity to create disorienting moments for students – in which law students are forced to confront circumstances that are directly at odds with their life and educational experiences to date. The disorienting moment should be at the heart of legal education.” Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law, congratulated Larry Donnelly on the publication of the report: “The report cements our already strong reputation as a national leader in providing an optimal legal education combining both theory and practice. This is the best means of preparing graduates for working in a rapidly changing, increasingly globalised environment.” The report can be accessed online at http://bit.ly/1LRWnqz. A hard copy can be obtained by contacting Mr Donnelly at larry.donnelly@nuigalway.ie.

The Law School at NUI Galway is delighted to announce an additional Hardiman Scholarship for 2015/2016: The School of Law-Child Care Law Reporting Project. The scholarship will be awarded for international comparative research into the specific issue of access to justice for children and their families in child protection systems, with a core focus on the review and analysis of best practice in the field. The research undertaken will be instrumental in informing scholarship, policy and practice in the child law arena and the doctoral thesis will be co-supervised by experts in the field. The holder of this Scholarship will have specified obligations towards the Child Care Law Reporting Project, engage in research and undertake related teaching and other duties within the School and/or with the Child Care Law Reporting Project in addition to pursuing their own doctoral research. For more information, please see  http://bit.ly/1FUtkjR or contact Connie.Healy@nuigalway.ie  Applications for this scholarship may be made through the Hardiman Scholarship website at http://www.nuigalway.ie/hardiman-scholarships/ indicating a preference for the Child Care Law Reporting Project (Box 12, page 5) Closing Date: 5p.m. 20th November 2015.

Careers in Law Week 2015 takes place on the week commencing Monday 28th September 2015. This is an initiative by the School of Law in conjunction with the Career Development Centre. Students are strongly encouraged to to attend as many of these events as possible and while they are open to all law students, it is especially important that those nearing the completion of their degrees attend in large numbers.The Careers in Law Week is an invaluable opportunity for students to begin to understand the environment in which they will compete with graduates from this and other institutions. Law Week begins with Monday's Law Firms’ Fair in the Bailey Allen Hall for which afternoon lectures have been cancelled. The format for the Law Firms Fair is as follows: Venue: The View 12:30 – 1:30pm:  Arthur Cox Presentation: 'How to Build Your Own Personal Brand' (light lunch provided by Arthur Cox) Venue: Bailey Allen Hall 2:00pm – 5:00pm: Law Firms FairMeet Ireland’s top law firms, network and learn about job opportunities. Includes panel discussions with partners and trainees from Arthur Cox, William Fry, A&L Goodbody, Matheson, McCann Fitzgerald, RDJ, Eversheds, Keating Connolly Sellors, Mason Hayes and Curran and Maples and Calder followed by networking and refreshments kindly supported by William Fry. In association with the School of Law and the NUIG Law Society. In addition to the Law Firms’ Fair there will be a number of other events: On Tuesday 29th September there will be a seminar on qualifying as a Barrister in Ireland from 5-6p.m. in THB-G010 Moore Institute Seminar Room (Hardiman Building). On Wednesday 30th September there will be a seminar on qualifying in the U.K./U.S. from 5-6p.m. in the Careers Seminar Room, Arts Building. On Thursday 1st October there will a seminar on ‘Alternative Careers with a Law Degree’ from 1-2p.m. in THB-G010 Moore Institute Seminar Room (Hardiman Building). You can download a flyer for Law Week for easy referral: Careers in Law Week 2016

Michael O'Flaherty has been chosen as the new Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). "It is with great pleasure that FRA’s Management Board announces the appointment of Michael O'Flaherty as the next FRA Director," said FRA Management Board Chairperson Frauke Lisa Seidensticker. "His profound human rights expertise and wealth of experience on the national, European and international stage will strengthen FRA’s role as a major player in shaping the fundamental rights landscape across the EU." FRA’s Management Board members interviewed the candidates during their meeting on 24-25 September. The final decision was then put to a vote. "It’s a great honour for me to take up this important position," said incoming Director Michael O'Flaherty. "I very much look forward to working together with the staff and the Management Board to advance the protection and promotion of fundamental rights throughout the EU, particularly in these critical times." Michael O'Flaherty is currently a Professor of Human Rights Law at National University of Ireland Galway in Ireland, as well as Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights. He has also been a member of the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee, and has been active in the field of human rights for over 20 years, nationally and internationally. He has been a senior expert for Ireland as part of FRA’s multidisciplinary research network, FRANET, since 2014.

The Annual Distinguished Lecture 2015, hosted by the School of Law at NUI Galway, was delivered by the Right Honourable Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland on the topic of ‘The role of the judiciary in the vindication of human rights’ and was chaired by the Chief Justice of Ireland, Ms. Justice Susan Denham. The event took in the Aula Maxima (Lower) on Friday 24th April, and  was introduced and closed by Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway.Previous speakers in the Annual Distinguished Lecture series include: Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University; Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University; Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court; Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court and Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly of the Irish Supreme Court. The event is held on an annual basis to mark the end of the academic year and welcomed students and graduates of the School of Law, NUIG as well as interested members of the public. For photo galleries of the event and the reception, please visit our Facebook page.

Law School lecturer Rónán Kennedy recently organised a panel on 'Using ICT for environmental regulation: Overlaps between privacy and environmental law' at the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection 2015 international conference. The event was funded by the Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change and the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at the National University of Ireland Galway.
Chair: Raphaël Gellert, Vrije Unversiteit Brussel (BE)Moderator: Rónán Kennedy, National University of Ireland Galway (IE)Panel: Guido Gorgoni, University of Padua (IT), Martina Hennessy, Environmental Protection Agency (IE), Andrew Jackson, An Taisce (IE), Burkhard Schafer, University of Edinburgh (UK)For more on the event, please visit http://ict4er.org/cpdp-2015/ or view the video proceedings directly on YouTube.

NUI Galway will hold a one-day conference to address and discuss a number of key legal and policy issues of relevance to older persons in Ireland. Organised by the Mental Health Rights Group and the LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, School of Law, NUI Galway in conjunction with the Employment Law Association of Ireland, the conference, ‘Law and the Older Person’ will take place on Saturday, 24 January.The conference is timely in examining specific issues of relevance to older people who are often overlooked in decision-making that impacts on their lives, whether at a personal level or more broadly from a societal perspective.Dr Mary Keys is the conference organiser: “There are topical and challenging issues being addressed at this event. We will discuss the role of advocacy in upholding the rights of older people, the Fair Deal scheme and the proposed Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 from both legal and medical perspectives. The conference will also explore age discrimination including the mandatory retirement age and aspects of legal practice and the older client.”‘Law and the Older Person’ will bring together many leading commentators from the fields of law, medicine and practice including: NUI Galway’s Professor Eamon O’Shea and Ursula Connolly; Mervyn Taylor, Service Manager, Sage; Patricia T. Rickard Clarke, Solicitor; Dr Shaun O’Keefe, Geriatrician; Mary Condell, Solicitor; Claire Bruton, Barrister; and Maria Dillon, Solicitor.The conference will provide an opportunity for discussion, and debate and will be of particular relevance to older persons, to carers, advocates, health care practitioners, lawyers, researchers, and independent sector service providers and policy activists.For more information on the programme and on registration please visit: http://conference.ie/.

Congratulations to the class who graduated from the Youth Academy on Saturday, 29 November. These classes were designed specifically for primary school pupils (aged between 10 and 13) and were a great sucess with very positive feedback from all involved. For the first time, a class on 'The World of Cops and Robbers: Learning the Law' was taught by PhD in law student, . This consisted of legal theory and  practical exercises. The students had an opportunity to participare in a moot trial, negotiation tournament and meet a number of legal professionals. The new six-week term starts in February, with the application process beginning at the end of December. For more information, please visit: http://cki.nuigalway.ie/youth_academy/  or contact the cordinator of the Academy, Geraldine Marley.

Former President Mary Robinson today welcomed the fact that the archive of the late Professor Kevin Boyle will be housed at NUI Galway. In a video presentation at a symposium taking place at the University today, celebrating the career of Kevin Boyle, she said: “I’m glad that his papers will enrich scholarship and activism from Galway for the betterment of the world in future.”The world-renowned human rights lawyer and scholar, Professor Kevin Boyle, served as a special advisor to Mary Robinson from September 2001, when she was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. His personal archive, comprising of over one hundred boxes of manuscripts and printed books, is a record of the varied and rich contribution made by the activist and scholar to international human rights.Also speaking at the international symposium, ‘The Human Rights Scholar-Activist or Activist-Scholar?’ hosted by NUI Galway’s School of Law and the Irish Centre for Human Rights, was Professor Sir Nigel Rodley, Chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. In his keynote address he said of Kevin Boyle: “His involvement in resisting discrimination on grounds of religion during the early part of the troubles must have been the defining period of his life….He was scholar and activist and advocate; the dimensions were intricately connected.”The archive, kindly donated by the Boyle family since Kevin’s untimely passing in 2010, has now been catalogued by the University’s James Hardiman Library, and represents a major resource for the study and teaching of human rights. It will be formally launched later today by the Attorney General, Máire Whelan, S.C. The archive includes: Letters between Boyle and various others involved in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement. It offers a new and engaging insight into emotions, tensions and experiences in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s and onwards through the 1970s. Key research and legal arguments on a wealth of areas from Kurdish rights, to Egyptian constitutional and legal reform, to conditions in India, China, Japan, South Africa to the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland, offering insights into a life lived in defence of others for over five decades. Paperwork from major cases, such as ‘Jersild Vs. Denmark, where a documentary film-maker was accused of inciting hatred owing to a film work he had made focusing on a right-wing group known as ‘The Green Jackets’, in Denmark. “The Kevin Boyle archive bears witness to a life lived greatly in the pursuit of justice by a charismatic man whose indefatigable optimism influenced so many others to continue his good work throughout the world”, said Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of School of Law, NUI Galway.In the late 1970s Kevin Boyle joined NUI Galway where he co-founded the Irish Centre for Human Rights with Denny Driscoll in 1980. Professor Michael O’Flaherty is now the Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights: “I was one of thousands of those who were first introduced to human rights by Kevin Boyle. He had a transformative impact on our lives. As his successors in university centres such as the Irish Centre for Human Rights we seek to respect his legacy and pass on his passion for justice to new generations of students.”For more information on the archive visit http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/archives/depositedcollections/featuredcollections/professorkevinboylearchive/

A student of the School of Law NUI Galway, Andrew Barr, was last week announced as the outright winner of the Bold Ideas Competition organised by the leading Irish law firm A&L Goodbody.  Andrew is a second year student on the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) programme.  Bold Ideas is a student innovation award competition that recognises the most innovative ideas from either undergraduate or postgraduate students from all disciplines.  Andrew’s winning ‘bold idea’ was in the area of environmental social responsibility and envisages businesses supporting the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.  Andrew identified that the funding for National Parks has undergone a significant reduction in recent years and that businesses can use their skills to support the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The idea is based on the development of a symbiotic relationship between private Irish business and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The idea is for Irish businesses not only to recycle and have less carbon footprint but also to contribute to the conservation of our natural environment.  Andrew Barr will take up a four-week summer internship with A&L Goodbody Dublin, with the opportunity to complete one week of his internship in one of their international offices (London, New York or San Francisco) and a €3,000 cash prize.  In addition of A&L Goodbody’s will make a cash donation on behalf of Andrew to a charity of his choice.Reflecting on his win, Andrew stated: “I cannot describe how grateful I am to those who helped me along the way with my research. In particular, I would like to thank my lecturer, Dr. Brian Tobin, of the School of Law. I am passionate about the preservation of our National Parks and am thrilled that my idea was selected. I got to see two National Parks and meet the people that run them and now I have a great internship for the summer so obviously I'm delighted”. This is the second time that an NUI Galway law student has won this prestigious prize. Mahmoud Abukhadir, now a graduate of the Bachelor of Corporate Law programme, was the overall winner in 2012.  Welcoming the latest success by Andrew Barr, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law, NUI Galway, stated: “The success of our students reflects the creative and critical ways they think.  The fact that Andrew’s idea was selected above other excellent ideas proposed by undergraduate and postgraduate students from other disciplines from Irish and UK Universities speaks volumes about the significance of his achievement and augurs well for his future as a successful NUIG law graduate”.

Dr Charles O’Mahony, lecturer in the School of Law NUI Galway, has been elected as President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers (IALT). The IALT was established in 1979 with the objective of advancing legal education, legal research and the work and interests of law teachers on the island of Ireland. The Association is managed by a council and is comprised of members representing law lecturers in Irish universities and institutes of technology on the island of Ireland.A native of County Kerry, Dr O’Mahony joined NUI Galway’s School of Law in 2012 as a lecturer in Public Law where he teaches a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses including Constitutional Law, Comparative Disability Law and Minors, Minority Groups and the Criminal Justice System. He completed his PhD in 2013 on‘Diversion: A Comparative Study of Law and Policy Relating to Defendants and Offenders with Mental Health Problems and Intellectual Disability’.Dr O’Mahony previously worked for Amnesty International Ireland as legal officer on its mental health campaign and as a legal researcher for the Law Reform Commission of Ireland. He is Co-programme Director of NUI Galway’s LLM in Public Law.The IALT runs a large conference annually, which attracts legal academics from all over Ireland and abroad. The IALT award a Book Prize named in memory of the late Professor Kevin Boyle who pioneered the teaching of human rights law in Ireland while Professor of Law at NUI Galway. Kevin Boyle an academic and human rights advocate of international repute was instrumental in the establishment of the IALT in 1979 and was elected President in 1985-1986. The IALT also offer a Teaching Innovation Fund for outstanding scholars and teachers in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Honorary members and patrons of the IALT include Mary McAleese and Mr Justice Bryan McMahon.

Dr Ciara Smyth, Director of the Doctoral Programme in the School of Law, NUI Galway, has been appointed to the government’s Working Group on Asylum.  The Working Group, which is convened by the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, and chaired by retired High Court judge, Mr Justice Bryan McMahon, is to recommend to Government what improvements should be made to the State’s existing direct provision and protection processes for asylum seekers in the short and longer term. The establishment of the Working Group comes in response to mounting criticism of delays in the Irish asylum procedure and the conditions in which asylum seekers are required to live while they await the outcome of their asylum applications.  Other members of the Working Group include: Sue Conlan, Chief Executive of the Irish Refugee Council and Sophie Magennis, Head of UNHCR in Ireland. Dr Ciara Smyth has been working in the asylum field for over fifteen years, both as a practitioner and as an academic.  She teaches Immigration Law, International Human Rights and International Law in the School of Law, NUI Galway, and Refugee Law in the Irish Centre for Human Rights.  She has been involved in training of staff in the asylum institutions, has conducted master-classes for barristers, solicitors and asylum decision-makers on various aspects of refugee law, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Irish Refugee Council.  She has just published a monograph with Routledge on  European Asylum Law and the Rights of the Child. Last year Ciara was presented with a prestigious Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award in Tilburg for her PhD thesis on ‘The Common European Asylum System and the Rights of the Child: An Exploration of Meaning and Compliance’, which she completed at Leiden University.Welcoming the announcement of Dr Smyth’s appointment to the new Working Group, the Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, Professor Donncha O’Connell, said: “This is a well-deserved recognition of Ciara Smyth’s standing as a leading Irish and European scholar on asylum and related matters. I have no doubt that she will make an invaluable contribution to the Working Group which will be chaired by Judge McMahon who was, previously, a part-time Professor in the School of Law at NUI Galway.”

The Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), NUI Galway, in close collaboration with project partner the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), has won a major EU contract for Irish Law and Social Data Research and will become Ireland’s new national focal point for the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). This is the first time that the prestigious FRANET-Ireland contract for data collection and research services on fundamental rights issues in Ireland has been awarded to an Irish University-led bid.FRANET is the FRA’s multidisciplinary research network. It is composed of contractors in each EU Member State who provide relevant data to FRA on fundamental rights issues, to facilitate the Agency’s comparative analyses. This work of the FRA then informs EU policy and initiatives across the EU member States.The ICHR/ICCL project has assembled a team of Ireland’s leading human rights and social science experts, located at academic institutions and in civil society.Professor Michael O’Flaherty, the Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, who becomes the FRANET Senior Expert for Ireland, commented: “We are very pleased to take on this contract that will generate crucial findings for the strengthening of fundamental rights in Ireland and across the EU. We are particularly pleased to partner with the ICCL and with Ireland’s top specialists to undertake this ground-breaking work.”Mark Kelly, the Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, who becomes the FRANET Senior Legal Expert for Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with the ICHR to ensure that the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency has legally accurate and up-to-date information about the state of human rights in Ireland. We also look forward to spreading the word about the important evidence-based research published by the FRA.”Research will focus on a number of thematic areas. These include: access to justice; victims of crime, including compensation to victims; respect for private life and protection of personal data; Roma integration; judicial cooperation; rights of the child; discrimination; asylum, immigration and borders; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Up to two current law students can attend a free, weekend-long workshop being facilitated by Professor Richard Roe of Georgetown Law School.  Professor Roe is one of the world’s leading experts on “street law,” which is an approach to teaching practical law in the community using interactive teaching methodologies.  The workshop will take place on the weekend of 10-12 October at Blackhall Place in Dublin.  Participants will include students from Irish and UK law schools, as well as recent law school graduates now attending the Professional Practice Course I in Blackhall Place.  Last year’s participants indicated that the workshop “boosted their confidence, knowledge and presentation skills.”  Interested students should contact Larry Donnelly (larry.donnelly@nuigalway.ie) as soon as possible.

The School of Law at NUI Galway is currently accepting applications for two Doctoral Scholarships. Applications are sought from students who intend to pursue doctoral-level research on topics related to either: (a) European Human Rights, and/or (b) Constitutional Law Applications are particularly encouraged from but not confined to those interested in any of the following areas: the domestic application of international human rights law; the role of the Ombudsman in the area of human rights; public interest litigation and public interest law; processes of constitutional reform; or the right to equality. The successful students will be supervised by Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law. These Scholarships will commence before the end of 2014 and are available for a period of four years, subject to satisfactory performance. Scholarships comprise an annual stipend of €16,000 inclusive of University tuition fees (accordingly a student receives a tax-free scholarship of approximately €11,755 per annum). The holder of a Scholarship is expected to reside in Galway, Ireland and, under the guidance of Professor O’Connell, will engage in a reasonable amount of research and research support, teaching and administrative tasks in the School of Law, NUI Galway, in addition to pursuing his or her own doctoral research. Those interested in applying should submit the following: • A covering letter• A curriculum vitae• Two letters of reference from academics familiar with the work of theapplicant• A statement of the proposed doctoral research topic (1,000 words). These materials must be sent to donncha.oconnell@nuigalway.ie by 5pm on 30th September, 2014. Full information and instructions on how to apply can be found here: Two Doctoral Scholarships at the School of Law

Yvonne Francis a student on our LL.M in Public Law recently visited the Seychelles having being selected as a Judicial Research Assistant to work with the Court of Appeal in the Seychelles. Yvonne undertook legal research for Judge Mathilda Twomey on the law of criminal defamation and bail in July and spent two weeks earlier this month observing court proceedings in the Seychelles and engaging in other legal research opportunities.

After recently signing a memorandum of understanding to establish formal links, Head of NUI Galway’s School of Law, Professor Donncha O’Connell, and Dean of Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Professor Camille Nelson, are delighted to announce that students from each institution are currently undertaking a two months placement, gaining a mixture of deeper academic knowledge and vital practical experience on opposite sides of the Atlantic.Professor O’Connell noted:  “The exchange offers an extraordinary opportunity for our students to learn about the US law and legal system in Boston, a vibrant city which is renowned for its universities and cultural life and which has very close ties with Galway and the west of Ireland.” Further, Professor O’Connell commented that: “This student exchange is unique in Irish law schools and reflects the School of Law’s commitment to clinical legal education – the idea that practical, ‘real world’ experience is an important component of legal education, especially as the practice of law in increasingly global in nature. I would like to thank my colleagues, Larry Donnelly, a Boston native who is a graduate of Suffolk Law School, and Dr Conor Hanly, who is leading the School of Law’s internationalisation efforts, for their work in establishing this new relationship and selecting students to take part in the exchange.”The NUI Galway students who are living, working and studying in Boston until the end of July are Ammi Burke, from Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Patrick Munnelly, from Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Catherine Corcoran, from Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan and Jacintha Hopkins, from Bohermore, Co. Galway.  They will be working, respectively, in the Massachussetts Appeal Court, the Massachussetts Secretary of State’s Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and the Probate and Family Court.Two Suffolk Law School students are spending the summer in Ireland. Melissa Chen will be working in the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway, while Ana Mora is working at the Law Reform Commission in Dublin. In addition to their academic work, both students will also be taking part in a variety of cultural activities and tours.Professor Nelson, Dean of Suffolk University Law School in Boston, said: “Suffolk Law School is delighted to partner with the School of Law at NUI Galway to offer our students this unique experience to learn from and work with public interest advocates engaged in truly compelling work.  Likewise, we very much look forward to hosting and welcoming into our Suffolk Law community students from NUI Galway who will be interning in Boston this summer as part of the program. As a school, we greatly value these international exchanges.  The enrichment they bring to our student and faculty life cannot be underestimated.”

The School of Law at NUI Galway, in association with the French embassy in Ireland, hosted a Franco-Irish discussion on marriage equality on April 25th.The keynote speaker was Erwann Binet, deputy of the French National Assembly. Deputy Binet was the rapporteur for the French “mariage pour tous” (marriage equality) bill in 2013 and spoke on the political challenges faced in passing the bill through the French parliament.Whereas marriage equality was legislated for in France without a referendum – despite significant political and public opposition – the Irish government has committed to holding a referendum to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015, as it believes that the Constitution in its current form would prevent this from being introduced through ordinary legislation. More than three quarters of the members of the Constitutional Convention recommended that the Constitution should be amended for provide for marriage equality for same-sex couples. Parallel to the debate on marriage rights, there has been move towards legislative reform concerning assisted reproduction and adoption rights in both countries.In this light, this event, chaired by Dr. Eoin Daly, provided an insight on the shared experience of Ireland and France in undertaking legislative and constitutional reform in controversial areas of family law. The respondent was Dr. Lucy-Ann Buckley of the School of Law, who discussed how similar challenges are being faced in Ireland both in relation to marriage equality and family law reform.

The 6th International Disability Law Summer School, hosted by NUI Galway’s Centre for Disability Law and Policy, will take place from the 16-20 June 2014. Registration is now open for the biggest such Summer School in the world, with a focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Entitled ‘Access to Justice and Political Participation’, it will focus on facilitating access to justice for all and encouraging political participation. The aim of the five-day Summer School is to equip participants with the insights and skills necessary to help them translate the generalities of the UN Convention into tangible reform for persons with disabilities.Over 100 delegates from 38 countries are expected to attend this year’s event. The participants include persons with disabilities, their families, civil society groups as well as advocates for disability law reform, lawyers, policy makers and policy analysts. The faculty will include senior academics, practitioners, advocates and policy makers from around the world. Most of the speakers have been directly and actively engaged in drafting and implementing the UN Convention. Others are advocates for change and reform.The keynote speaker for the Summer School will be Amita Dhanda, Professor of Law and Head of the Centre for Disability Studies, NALSAR, University of Law, Hyderabad, India, who has published extensively on the legal position of persons with mental disabilities. Dr Dhanda has also actively engaged in the work of the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee negotiating the UN Convention.Mr Donal Toolan, founder member of the Forum for People with Disabilities will respond to the keynote address. Most presentations will either be given by, or responded to, by disabled activists from around the world. A notable feature of the annual Summer School is a Moot Court exercise based on the UN Convention.Dr Eilionóir Flynn, Deputy Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway, said, “Above all, the School belongs to people with disabilities and their allies and is structured in such a way as to enable people explore for themselves the relevance of the Convention in their own lives and in the process of change. It sees people with disabilities as agents of change whether in Ireland, Kenya or India. It sees people with disabilities as providers and advocates for solutions – instead of as problems.”The Summer School is in part supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies, The Soros-Open Society Institute, The Department of Foreign Affairs (Irish Aid), The FP7 Marie Curie DREAM project of the European Union and NUI Galway.Registration for the Summer School is now open and will cost €330. Further information is available at www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp or phone Niamh Lally on 091 494270. Participant accessibility (physical or communicational) requests and enquiries are welcomed.

Students of the LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy programme, along with staff of NUI Galway’s Centre for Disability Law and Policy, recently held the a Disability Awareness Week - Access All AreasFunded through the EXPLORE project at NUI Galway, the week saw a range of inter-disciplinary events organised all over campus with the aim of raising awareness around disability, diversity and equality in access to higher education and inclusion in society. More specifically, this project aimed at increasing staff, student and public awareness about people with disabilities, with a view to combating stereotypes and promoting the contributions of people with disabilities through a campus-wide awareness week.At the beginning of the week the innovative 'Going to College' Project was showcased. This is a pioneering education initiative supporting the full inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities into NUI Galway. Students currently enrolled at NUI Galway as part of this project, as well as their mentors spoke and shared their experiences.An Employability Seminar was organised on the second day of the week. At the morning seminar attendees, mostly students, heard from representatives from local, national and international organizations working to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. The seminar also addressed issues such as disability awareness within the corporate environment. Speakers included Pauline Dwyer of Employability Galway, Claire Hurley from the NUI Galway Career Development Office, a representative from the Association for Higher Education Access & Disability, and members from the Kanchi initiative, a social enterprise that works with businesses to encourage the employment of persons with disabilities.Highlights during the week included: a seminar on ‘Mental Illness or Psychosocial disability- What’s the difference?’; an Introduction to Irish Sign Language class, a Disability Awareness Workshop; a Disability Equality e-learning module, designed by the National Disability Authority; and a tandem cycle event around campus, organised by the Galway Visually Impaired Activity Club. Students also presented the outcomes of their Accessibility Audit of NUI Galway.The cast of the Blue Teapot Theatre Company also spoke about the recent production, ‘Sanctuary’, a poignant, funny and bittersweet play that explores the lives and relationships of people with intellectual disabilities and the obstacles they must overcome to be together.PhD Candidate Siobhán Purcell of the Moore Institute for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at NUI Galway discussed how disability is represented in the Irish literary tradition, particularly exploring the works of Joyce and Beckett.The Awareness Week was an opportunity for the LLM students to apply what they have learnt in practice and work towards dismantling the barriers to inclusion and participation faced by persons with disabilities. The week was effective and meaningful in terms of introducing the disability friendly environment in the college. The Disability Support Office and local organisations also significantly contributed to the week which will be repeated on an annual basis.Throughout the week, the students manned a stand to provide information about the week and from which they also made a film asking students to comment on what disability meant to them. The video is available to view at https://www.dropbox.com/s/gmo1762o53umfjw/WhatDoesDisabilityMean.m4v

Jan O’Sullivan, TD, Minister of State, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Planning was at NUI Galway this week to receive a copy of Contemporary Housing Issues in a Globalized World, edited by School of Law Lecturer, by Dr Padraic Kenna.The globalization of housing finance led to the global financial crisis, which has created new barriers to adequate and affordable housing. It presents major challenges for current housing law and policy, as well as for the development of housing rights. This book examines and discusses key contemporary housing issues in the context of today’s globalized housing systems.The book takes up the challenge of developing a new paradigm, working towards the possibility of an alternative future. Revolving around three themes of writing by diverse contributors, each chapter sets out a clear and developed approach to contemporary housing issues.The first major theme considers the crisis in mortgage market regulation, the development of mortgage securitization and comparisons between Spain and Ireland, two countries at the centre of the global housing market crisis.The second theme is housing rights within the architecture of European human rights, within national constitutions, and those arising from new international instruments, with their particular relevance for persons with disabilities and developing economies.The third theme incorporates an examination of responses to the decline and regeneration of inner cities, legal issues around squatting in developed economies, and changes in tenure patterns away from home-ownership.Raquel Rolnik, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing and of the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil said “The deregulation, liberalization and internationalization of finance have had major implications for housing and urban developments throughout the world. The ‘financialization’ of housing has been accompanied by the conceptual transformation of adequate housing from a social good into a commodity, and financial asset and housing markets are increasingly regulated so as to promote financial rather than social aspects of housing.”Ms Rolnik continued, “This book analyses how this process has impacted on violations of the right to adequate housing in different countries and regions. More than understanding the situation, the book offers alternatives and perspectives, crucial in the current housing crisis.”This topical book will be valuable to those who are interested in law, housing rights and human rights, policy-making and globalization. It is published by Ashgate (UK) and can be ordered here. 

Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly of the Supreme Court and formerly Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union will deliver the School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture 2014 on Friday, 4 April at 8pm in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway.The title of his lecture will be The National Judge and the European Union and Anna-Louise Hinds, Lecturer in European Law at NUIG and Co-editor of the Irish Journal of European Law, will formally respond to his paper.Previous speakers in the School of Law Annual Distinguished Lecture series include: Professor Christopher McCrudden of Oxford University; Judge John T. Noonan of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Professor Neil Walker of Edinburgh University; Baroness Brenda Hale of the UK Supreme Court; and Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness of the Irish Supreme Court. The event is held on an annual basis to mark the end of the academic year and is open to students and graduates of the School of Law, NUI Galway as well as interested members of the public.In announcing this event, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUIG said: “Mr. Justice Fennelly is a judge of the highest renown who is recognised for the rigour and consistency of his judgments. His expertise in the area of European Law, in particular, is widely acknowledged. It is a great honour for the School of Law at NUI Galway to have him deliver our Annual Distinguished Lecture on a topic of great importance not just to lawyers but to all European citizens.”Mr. Justice Nial Fennelly undertook a degree in Economics at University College Dublin and completed his Bar studies at King's Inns. He practised at the Irish Bar from 1966 to 1995 and worked principally in commercial and constitutional cases, with a particular interest in the growing field of European Community (including Competition) Law. He was Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland for 1990 and 1991 and was the first Irish lawyer to be appointed as Advocate General at the European Court of Justice (ECJ, now CJEU), where he served from 1995 to 2000. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland in October 2000.He is a Bencher of the Honorable Society of King's Inns and of the Middle Temple in London. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of European Law at Trier, Germany, Chairman of the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL) and President of the Irish Society for European Law and was President in 2004 of FIDE (Fédération Internationale de Droit Européenne). He has written many articles concerning the law of the European Union, with particular interest in its constitutional aspects.

NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights and the Irish Government paves the way for major reform in international structures that oversee the human rights record of UN member-states.Last month the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution on human rights that was built in large part based on the research of Professor Michael O'Flaherty from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway. The ‘Dublin Process’ document sets out to strengthen and enhance the efficiency structures of the UN Human Rights treaty body system.This resolution marks a defining moment in a treaty body reform process that began in Dublin in 2009 and paves the way for the delivery of enhanced resources to this long-neglected part of the UN human rights system and re-affirms the independence of treaty bodies and their membership.One such example of upholding human rights in a meaningful way among States and civil societies was the international attention and subsequent Irish Human Rights Commission report published in June 2013, for human rights violations in the Magdalene Laundries and redress for the Magdalene women based on human rights abuses.The UN human rights oversight mechanism, known as the treaty body system, has been beset with longstanding and deeply ingrained inefficiencies and other impediments to effectiveness, all of which have undermined its capacity to do its job of getting governments to uphold the human rights of their peoples.Repeated efforts to reform the system had only very limited success and the problems continued to multiply. In response, on the invitation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Professor O'Flaherty, in 2009, convened an expert group in Dublin to set out a road map for a new reform process that would deliver meaningful results.There followed a set of consultations around the world that were drawn together in 100 recommendations adopted at a second meeting in 2011, convened in Dublin by Professor Michael O'Flaherty. Those recommendations were then put before the UN General assembly by means of a report submitted to it by the High Commissioner.The subsequent two-year debate, in which Professor O'Flaherty participated in an expert capacity, was brought to a conclusion with the historic resolution on the 11th February 2014.Professor O'Flaherty, Director of NUI Galway's Irish Centre for Human Rights, said, "This is a defining moment in a treaty body reform process that got underway in Dublin in 2009. Remarkably, it does so with some success, paving the way for the delivery of enhanced resources to the long neglected sector and re-affirming the independence of the treaty bodies and their membership. The pathway to the adoption of the resolution was also notable, comprising a multi-stakeholder engagement that was exceptional in terms of UN human rights diplomatic practice. The Dublin Process will serve as a template of how other intractable problems of the UN Human rights system can be tackled in an effective way. The Irish government deserves great credit for its steadfast support for the process."The ‘Dublin Process’ led by Professor O’Flaherty was at the heart of the landmark resolution adopted last month by the UN General Assembly. The process began in Dublin in 2009 and ended two years later in Dublin. The project was supported by the Irish Government, who played an important role alongside the UN General Assembly in bringing paving the way for this resolution of the treaty body system, under the leadership of Professor O’Flaherty. It highlights the impact that the Irish Centre for Human Rights is making and that their University-based work is resulting in a very meaningful strengthening of UN Human Rights.For more information on the process Professor O'Flaherty discusses it in a recent blog post at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/irish-centre-human-rights/news/-professor-oflaherty-on-strengthening-of-the-un-human-rights-treaty-body-system.html

NUI Galway’s Centre for Disability and Law Policy will ask “Is it time for the US landmark decision, Brown v. Board of Education, to be applied to children with disabilities?”  On the 60th Anniversary of the seminal case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Centre for Disability and Law Policy at NUI Galway in association with Leuven Institute for Human Rights and Critical Studies (LIHRICS) will host a conference to discuss the Concept of the Right to Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities, on Saturday 22nd February in Áras Moyola, NUI Galway from 9.15am to 5pm.Sixty years after the landmark case, separate educational provision is still the norm for many children with disabilities throughout Europe, where parents of disabled children are not being provided with access to mainstream schools and staff, which have the capacity to meet the needs and provide appropriate education for disabled children. In 2006 the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Article 24 entered into force recognizing the right to education for people with disabilities, and the right it recognizes is the right to an effective and inclusive education.The conference will discuss the concept of inclusive education, what is meant by inclusive education and what can lawyers do to ensure that the right to inclusive education becomes a reality for all. It will look at the particular legal tools that could be used to further the right to education for people with disabilities, and will raise the question, “Is it time for the decision taken at the case of Brown v. Board of Education, be applied to children with disabilities?” This unique conference will bring together academics and practitioners from the fields of law and education as well as parents who, because of their circumstances had to become advocates and litigants on behalf of their children.The US Supreme Court stated, “In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he or she is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms…Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”Shivaun Quinlivan, Director LL.M in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy, School of Law, NUI Galway commented “As Ireland prepares to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) we ask the question, are we ready? To attempt to answer that question we have set out a programme which we hope covers the aspects of concern and offers potential solutions.”  Conference attendees will hear about the background and history behind the negotiations and the drafting of Article 24 of the UNCRPD from Professor Arlene Kanter from Syracuse University. Professor Michael Shevlin from Trinity College Dublin will discuss ‘Inclusive Education’ and what it means, while Dr. Gauthier de Beco from KU Leuven will discuss the content of Article 24 and what obligations it imposes on State parties. This session is followed by a Q&A and lunch. Mr. Luk Zerderloo from the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) willpresent an‘Overview of Inclusive Education in Europe’.In a session on teaching, primary school Principal, Mr. Cóilín O’Coigligh will present a case study on the challenges to inclusion that exist in the Irish context today. This is followed by Mr. Richard Rieser from the World of Inclusion who has recently completed a review for UNICEF on preparing teachers for children with disabilities from an inclusive perspective.  This will be followed by a Q&A session.The conference will then address the issue of litigating the right to education, Mr. James McNabb a parent of a child with a disability will discuss his story of litigating against the Department of Education to ensure that his son accessed an appropriate education. This is followed by Lycette Nelson, the Litigation Director from Mental Disability Advocacy Centre (MDAC) who will discuss ‘Strategic Litigation and the Right to Education.’ This is followed by a Q&A session.Finally Professor Gerry Whyte from Trinity College Dublin who has written the seminal work on the topic of “Social Inclusion and the Legal System: Public Interest Law in Ireland” will act as Rapporteur for the conference. Separatelya Student Conference will take place on Friday 21st February from 5pm to 7pm, the event is free to all and students will address issues related to Article 24 of the UNCRPD.  The Friday event is split into two panels, the first panel will discuss, “Discreet Issues in respect of Inclusive Education” addressing issues such as inclusive education, early intervention and reasonable accommodation. The second panel will discuss the “Implementation of Article 24 UNCRPD in Various Jurisdictions”. The students will focus on their countries of origin, including, China, Kenya, Nepal and Uganda. For further details on the conference, speakers and registration visit www.conference.ie

Newly Appointed Ombudsman & Information Commissioner, Peter Tyndall delivers his first public lecture to mark the 10th anniversary of the LL.M in Public Law at NUI GalwayThe newly appointed Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Peter Tyndall delivered his first public lecture since taking up office at NUI Galway. The lecture, hosted by the School of Law to mark the first ten years of its LL.M in Public Law, took place on Wednesday 19th February at 8pm at the Aula Maxima (lower).The event was chaired by the former Supreme Court judge, Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, Chairperson of Udarás na hOllscoile and Adjunct Professor of Law at NUI Galway, who has been associated with the LL.M in Public Law since its inception. The title of Mr. Tyndall’s lecture was: ‘The Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Delivering Fairness and Transparency’.Speaking at the announcement of the event, Ms Marie McGonagle, Director of the LL.M in Public Law said, “We are delighted to welcome the new Ombudsman and Information Commissioner to NUI Galway to this the first event to mark the 10th anniversary year of the LLM in Public Law. Given the strong public service and public interest law focus of the LL.M, it is fitting that our graduates and current students should have this wonderful opportunity to hear and reflect on the important role recently taken up by the new Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, and to appreciate his goals and the challenges his office faces.”Mr. Tyndall received his warrant of appointment as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner from President Michael D. Higgins on 2nd December 2013. Mr Tyndall succeeded Ms Emily O’Reilly and will also serve as Commissioner for Environmental Information, and as an ex-officio member of the Standards in Public Office Commission, the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, the Referendum Commission and the Constituency Commission. You can find videos of the event on our YouTube channel.

The Moot Court Module final took place on Saturday 1 February with the victorious team of Daniel Doyle and Liam King narrowly overcoming Mary Ann Sullivan and Maggie MacAoghusa in a tense final moot which exhibited everything that is positive about mooting before an initial bench comprising of Gerry Burke BL, Ronan Murphy Solicitor and Maria Dillon Solicitor and Mr. Justice Henry Abbott in the Final. The School would like to thank all four judges, in particular Mr. Justice Abbott who travelled down from Dublin, for their time and effort. Special tribute to the sixteen mooters for their application, effort and enthusiasm over the last five months which culminated in some fantastic mooting.   Thanks to all the members of staff who so generously gave of their time, in particular Ursula Ni Chonghaile for drafting the interesting Moot fact pattern, Tom O’Malley for giving guest lectures and Rónán Kennedy who was kind enough to address the Class and give them critical feedback in relation to their draft submissions. The team mentors were Diarmuid Griffin, Charles O’Mahony, Nicola Murphy, Dr. Noelle Higgins, Shivaun Quinlivan, Thomas Mc Donagh, Dr. Joe McGrath and Larry Donnelly with Noelle and Nicola’s teams battling in the final and Noelle’s team emerging victorious.

The School of Law at NUI Galway (and its specialised research centres: the Irish Centre for Human Rights, the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, the Centre for Housing Law, Rights & Policy and the Marine Law & Ocean Policy Centre) are currently accepting applications for a number of Doctoral Fellowships from prospective full-time or existing full-time doctoral students. The fellowships provide PhD funding for a maximum of two years. Applications are welcome in any area of law. The School has a thrivingcommunity of doctoral researchers, with a particular emphasis on international human rights law and disability law and policy as well as other areas such as housing law and policy and marine law. These Fellowships are available for the academic year 2013/2014 and will commence immediately upon award. Full details are available in the files below: Doctoral Fellowship Announcement 2014 PhD Fellowships - Conditions of Tenure

The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway has brought together 23 of Ireland’s leading human rights groups to adopt a common vision for human rights in Irish Foreign Policy.The Galway Platform on Human Rights in Irish Foreign Policy sets out the basic human rights standards and practices by which Ireland should be held to account in its dealings with other countries, as well as in its activities at EU and UN levels.The Galway Platform contains 47 specific observations and proposals to government in the context of the current consultation on a review of Irish Foreign Policy being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These are realistic and measured recommendations intended to ensure that Ireland holds true to the human rights commitments that it has freely entered into.The protection of human rights is integral to Ireland’s foreign policy and Ireland now has the opportunity to significantly enhance its capacity to promote and protect human rights worldwide as well as at home. The recommendations also emphasise the need for human rights to be mainstreamed across every aspect of foreign policy. For instance, the Galway Platform states that, “it would be unacceptable for the State to undertake any action that is inconsistent with the human rights standards by which it is held to account.”Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway said, “We are delighted that so many important human rights groups were able to come to Galway and agree on this wide-ranging road map for human rights in Irish Foreign Policy. Although the government is already getting a lot right when it comes to the promotion of human rights internationally, no one would dispute that it can do so much more. The Irish Centre for Human Rights and the other signatories are putting the Galway Platform recommendations to government so that Ireland can be an international champion of human rights to make us proud.”The Galway Platform has been signed by:Amnesty International Ireland, Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights at University College Cork, Centre for Disability Law & Policy at National University of Ireland, Galway, Children's Rights Alliance, Community Workers’ Co-operative, Department of Applied Social Studies, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), Front Line Defenders, Gay & Lesbian Equality Network, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Irish Penal Reform Trust, Irish Refugee Council, Liberia Solidarity Group, National Assembly of the Baha’is of Ireland, National Women's Council of Ireland, Northern Ireland Human Rights Consortium, Pavee Point, Social Justice Ireland, Trocaire, University College Dublin, Human Rights Network and Women’s Human Rights Alliance.

 ‘European Integration and the Taming of Nationalism’ is the theme of the lecture with a response by Professor Gerard Quinn, NUI Galway School of LawThe 2014 Dr Garret FitzGerald Memorial Lecture will be given by Dr Peter Sutherland and hosted at NUI Galway by NUI Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning and President of NUI Galway Dr Jim Browne. Dr Sutherland will speak on the topic of ‘European Integration and the Taming of Nationalism’ and Prof. Gerard Quinn, School of Law, NUI Galway will respond.Dr Peter Sutherland is Chairman of the London School of Economics and the UN Special Representative for Migration and Development. He served as European Commissioner between 1985 and 1988, having been appointed as Ireland’s Attorney General by Dr Garret FitzGerald in 1981.NUI Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning said 'Nothing delighted Dr Garret FitzGerald more than public discourse and the articulation and defence of ideas. In seeking to honour him, the Senate of the National University of Ireland thought it appropriate to initiate an annual series of lectures in his memory.   This year’s lecture by Peter Sutherland is on a topic that Garret would have found of great interest'. NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne said “The Dr Garret FitzGerald Memorial Lecture commemorates one of Ireland’s leading statesman and a former Chancellor of NUI.  We in NUI Galway are honoured to host the 2014 Memorial Lecture and look forward to welcoming Dr Peter Sutherland, a close and long standing friend of Dr FitzGerald, to campus for what promises to be a fascinating and stimulating address.”Professor Gerard Quinn, NUI Galway School of Law, will respond to Dr Sutherland’s view on ‘European Integration and the Taming of Nationalism’. The lecture will be held in the Aula Maxima at 6pm on Friday, 31 January 2014 and is open to the public, who can register at www.conference.ie  Advanced booking is essential as places are limited.The Dr Garret FitzGerald Memorial Lecture is held annually by the National University of Ireland at constituent colleges. A former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald was Chancellor of the NUI between 1997 and 2009, and had previously served as a member of the Senate of the University from 1972 until 1997.

Dr Padraic Kenna of the School of Law, NUI Galway will lead a major €1m EU-funded research project on evictions across the 28 European Union (EU) Member States. The research will investigate the national legal frameworks and extent of evictions across Europe. The study will gather data from across the EU and identify both the pan-European factors that lead to the loss of a home and measures to counter homelessnessThe research will identify effective early intervention and preventative measures and create a profile of evicted households, risk factors and risk groups.  Patterns of evictions across all EU Member States will be analysed in the context of diverse structural factors including the economic crisis, welfare systems and legal practices and protections.The project, which will take two years, was awarded following a competitive tendering process by the European Commission. It will examine evictions from mortgaged, rental and other properties, with a focus on the right to housing within the context of national and EU law all areas in which Dr Kenna is a leading European expert.NUI Galway will lead a consortium of University and housing research agencies in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Spain. Dr Kenna, as Research Director/Principal Investigator will lead the network of national experts on housing law and policy across all EU Member States. The researchers will collate national and local data, as well as legal materials for the project’s report to the European Commission.Dr Kenna said, “In Ireland we have a deeply historical sentiment on evictions. Michael Davitt wrote that an eviction was the expression of the power of profit and of property over the right of a family. Today, an eviction represents the collision of basic human rights with property rights, and while the European Union is committed to the protection of human rights, the balance of these interests represents the contemporary fault line between market forces and people’s right to housing.”Measures to prevent homelessness within all EU Member States remain a priority for the European Commission. This project will collate and evaluate the most cost-effective measures which can be advanced to mitigate evictions across the EU. The project team will prepare reports and recommendations for the European Commission on best practice models, to monitor, alleviate and prevent evictions, within the framework of national and EU law and policy.Welcoming the announcement of this award, Professor Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said “This is a highly prestigious and worthwhile project led by my colleague, Dr Padraic Kenna. It is a concrete recognition of his standing as a major player in the field of housing law, rights and policy in Europe; and a great boost to his tireless and impactful work in this area at national and international level.”

Congratulations to Dr. Ciara Smyth who was presented with a prestigious Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award in Tilburg recently. Nominated by the Law Faculty Board of Leiden University where she graduated with a doctorate, she received the award for her PhD thesis on 'The Common European Asylum System and the Rights of the Child: An Exploration of Meaning and Compliance'.Commenting on the award, Professor Donncha O'Connell, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, said: "Dr Smyth's work in the broad areas of asylum an immigration is cutting-edge and engaged. This award is concrete evidence of its rich academic value and impact internationally."The Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award was established in 1995 as an incentive for students and PhD students who have written a thesis or any other academic work in the field of human rights.The award was an initiative of the Law Faculty and Studium Generale of Tilburg University and was joined by the School of Human Rights Research as of 1998.  Since 2002, the Human Rights Award is named after Max van der Stoel, the former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in honour of his work in that field.

They are joined in the photograph below by Prof. Gerard Quinn, Director of the CDLP, and Shivaun Quinlivan, Programme Director of the LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy. ‌

The Convention on the Constitution is preparing to hold its first meeting west of the Shannon in Galway next week. The meeting will take place in NUI Galway (Áras Moyola Lecture Theatre, North Campus) on Wednesday, 30 October at 7.30pm, and members of the public have been invited to attend.The meeting in Galway is one of 9 public meetings across Ireland in October and November. These meetings will help to set the agenda as the Convention selects a number of constitutional issues to look at in the final module of its work programme. The next plenary meeting of the Convention (in Dublin) is on November 2nd and 3rd to discuss the removal of the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution. Following this meeting, the Convention will be free to make recommendations for further constitutional amendment as it sees fit.The meeting in NUI Galway will be addressed by guest speaker Professor Donncha O'Connell who is Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway. Professor O’Connell is an expert on Constitutional Law and European Human Rights. Speaking today, he said:“The Convention on the Constitution has made some very worthwhile recommendations for constitutional reform in the past year. The Convention is to be commended for organising a series of meetings around the country to ascertain the views of citizens and members of the public on what other issues of constitutional reform it should address in the remaining period of its existence. Every effort at deliberative democracy should be valued. Citizens of Galway and the surrounding areas should avail of the opportunity to have their views heard in a forum in which those views will be respected and valued. I hope there is a great attendance with vibrant and challenging contributions from members of the public.”The Chairman of the Convention on the Constitution, Tom Arnold, said:“I am delighted to announce that we will be visiting Galway to listen to the wide range of issues which citizens believe that the Convention on the Constitution should consider. Over the last year we have received many thousands of submissions and we are looking to forward to hearing the detail of these issues first-hand from members of the public. The Convention on the Constitution is citizens’ forum and it is essential that Irish citizens are able to make their views known and have their say. Members of the Convention are very keen to hear citizens' views and I would like to welcome people living in Galway to come along and get involved in the process.”The Convention session hosted by the School of Law at NUI Galway will be streamed live on Wednesday October 30th beginning at 7.30pm at www.nuigalway.ie/constitutionalconvention. Further information: www.constitution.ie

The School of Law hosted the Annual Conference of the Local Authority Solicitors Bar Association (LASBA) on Friday 27th September, linking academics and practitioners in a review of current issues in local government law. NUI Galway provides the only course in Law of Local Government in the country through the LLM in Public Law. The Association represents in-house solicitors employed by the Local Authorities in Cork City and County, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, County Galway, County Kerry, South Dublin, and County Wicklow. LASBA is officially recognised by the Law Society of Ireland as a representative Bar Association. Pictured (left to right) are Dr Padraic Kenna, Conference Organiser, Marie McGonagle Director of the LLM in Public Law, Professor Donncha O' Connell, Head of School of Law, Sandra Murphy (Solr) and Chairperson of the Conference, Terence O' Keefe, President, LASBA and Mairead Cashman, Senior Solicitor, Dublin City Council.

Careers in Law Week took place the week of Monday, 16 September. This is an initiative by the School of Law in conjunction with the Career Development Centre. The highlight of the week was the law firms day on Tuesday 17 September in the Bailey Allen Hall, where students had the chance to meet Ireland's top firms, network and learn about their job opportunities. RDJ Glynn, William Fry, Arthur Cox, A&L Goodbody, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Holmes O’Malley Sexton and Mason Hayes & Curran gave presentations, followed by networking and refreshments (kindly supported by RDJ Glynn). Other events included: Monday, 16 September in the Siobhan McKenna Theatre: 'Gateways into the Legal Profession in Ireland, the US and Australia' and 'Qualifying as a Barrister in Ireland - Tales from the Trenches'. Tuesday, 17 September in the View: Mock Group Interview Workshop, facilitated by Arthur Cox. Wednesday, 18 September: 'Qualifying as a Solicitor UK - Video Conference with Oxford University' Thursday, 19 September: 'Alternative Careers with a Law degree' Attendees at Careers with Law Week events were entered into a draw for an iPad, kindly sponsored by William Fry. The lucky winner was Rory Treacy (B. Corp Law).  

The EU Directorate General for Research, led by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, has singled out the CDLP-managed Marie Curie DREAM project as a success story which is profiled on its website. Disability Rights Expanding Accessible Markets or DREAM is a training network for early stage researchers stemming from the EU Marie Curie Initial Training Network Funding Programme. The primary aim of DREAM is to professionally develop and educate the next generation of disability policy researchers and entrepreneurs to assist the EU and its Member States in their efforts to implement the UN CRPD at EU and Member State levels. This will involve exploring options for European Union disability law and policy reform in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). For more information about DREAM, visit their website.

Congratulations to Connie Healy, Ph.D candidate and IRC scholar at the School of Law (supervisor Marie McGonagle) who was recently awarded one of 12 scholarships open to all Family Law researchers across the EU to attend and present a paper at the Commission on European Family Law's Fifth Annual Conference entitled 'Family Law and Culture in Europe' which is due to be held at the University of Bonn from 29th-31st August 2013. Connie's paper is entitled 'Collaborative Practice: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Resolution of Conflict in Family Law Matters'.

NUI Galway’s Centre for Disability Law and Policy welcomes the publication of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 today (July 17th, 2013).Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUI Galway, said: “This is a landmark moment in the process of disability law reform in Ireland. Once enacted Ireland should be able to ratify the UN disability treaty. The Minister is to be congratulated for moving beyond traditional guardianship to enable people take charge of their own lives. In particular, as the changed title of the Bill suggests, it innovates by putting into place supports where needed to assist people make their own decisions and chart their own life choices. In the period ahead we will be making many suggested improvements to make this profound shift a reality in people’s daily lives. The Bill retains a limited form of guardianship. Obviously the Minister and her officials believe this to be compatible with the UN disability treaty.  Time will tell.  But for the moment we laud the major step forward in the provisions dealing with supported decision making and will do our part to come forward with constructive suggestions for refinements and improvements.”He added: “The process for getting to this point deserves particular praise. The Oireachtas Justice Committee held a series of important and indeed historic hearings with civil society and made sure their voice was heard.  Officials from Government Departments responsible for drafting the legislation also listened. And the Minister was a very active listener. This demonstrates the success of concerted efforts from a large range of civil society organisations across disability, mental health, and ageing sectors, who put forward positive ideas for reform in the Essential Principles for Legal Capacity Law.”Dr Eilionóir Flynn, Senior Research Fellow with the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, said: “Among the areas for improvement in the Bill are the following: First, we welcome the inclusion in the Bill’s General Principles of the requirement that decision-makers must give effect, wherever possible to the ‘will and preferences’ of the person, as it ensures respect for the basic human rights of persons with disabilities.  We will be making suggestions to ensure the primacy of this principle throughout the Act to ensure respect for human rights. Secondly, it is crucial that the Government provides a timeline for the reform of other areas of law affected by legal capacity but currently exempted under this Bill, for example, the Mental Health Act 2001, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, and the Juries Act 1976, among others. Thirdly, there is a need for some sort of infrastructure to encourage and develop good practice in supported decision-making. In the Bill this role is given to the Office of Public Guardian. The title of the office suggests that a more protective, rather than empowering approach will be take. An Office for Assisted Decision-Making may be more appropriate. Fourthly, some process for active learning must be put in place. The Bill contains a provision for a review of the functioning of the Act within a five-year timeframe. We believe that a more robust review provision is required, given the rate at which new thinking on legal capacity and supported decision-making is advancing. A review of the ‘functioning’ of the Act could be limited in scope, especially if relatively few provisions of the Act have been commenced within that five-year timeframe. This needs improvement.” Charles O’Mahony, Lecturer in Public Law at NUI Galway, said: “Much of the capacity Bill is framed positively and a greater premium is being placed on the respect for the decision-making of persons. The Mental Health Act 2001 is currently undergoing review and it is essential the mental health legislation and new legal capacity legislation interface in a consistent way reflecting Ireland obligations under international human rights law.”Professor Quinn concluded: “This will replace Victorian legislation which the early Irish Free State pledged to remove. We are finally catching up with the ideals of our founders. With improvements this Bill could finally hand back power to the people and position us again in the first rank of nations dedicated to the rights of persons with disabilities.”

Gerard Quinn, Professor at the School of Law at NUI Galway and Director of its Centre for Disability Law and Policy, has been appointed to the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) which is headquartered in Vienna. The EU FRA is one of the specialised agencies of the EU which was set up in 2007 to provide expert advice to the EU and its Member States to ensure that the fundamental rights of people living in the EU are respected.  It helps to inform EU law and policy and to ensure that its power is properly harnessed to respect fundamental rights.The Scientific Committee oversees the quality of the research of the FRA across a broad range of topics (e.g. racism, the rights of older people, privacy, the quality of the democratic process, etc.). This June, Professor Quinn joins eleven other widely renowned experts from across Europe for a five year term.Speaking on his appointment, Professor Quinn said: “Europe is at a historic turning point away from failed economic and social models. It has a chance to reinvent itself as a force for good in its own citizens’ lives and around the world. This turn is by no means assured. But bodies like the EU FRA are at the fore of helping to redefine the EU of the future. That's why I am involved.”  The Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway, Professor Donncha O’Connell, said: “I would like to warmly congratulate Professor Quinn on this prestigious international appointment. It speaks directly to his impressive track record as an engaged scholar animated by impact in the domain of public policy, something to which the School of Law at NUI Galway is deeply committed.”

The ways in which information and communications technology can be used to support environmental regulation was the subject of an international exploratory workshop in NUI Galway on 20-21 June. The workshop, ‘Information and Communications Technology for Environmental Regulation: Developing a Research Agenda’, attracted over fifty international experts from Europe, the United States of America and Australia. The delegates were experts in law, the physical and social sciences, information systems and web science. The lively discussions addressed topics such as real-time monitoring of air pollution through sensors; large-scale databases of geographical information on the health of rivers, lakes and beaches; satellite-based monitoring of farming patterns; and the provision of information on industrial pollution to the public through government websites. Speakers included academics, staff from non-governmental agencies and personnel from regulatory agencies. The keynote speaker was Professor Bradley C. Karkkainen, University of Minnesota School of Law.According to the workshop convenor, Rónán Kennedy, “This was a valuable first step in mapping out a complex range of problems from the legal supports needed to develop this potentially valuable tool, to vital issues like privacy, along with the details of how the technology is used in practice. We learned about the difficulties that can be caused by the differences between the pace of change in technology, which can be very rapid, and change in the law, which can be very slow. We also learned that there is a difference between having data and having knowledge. Without real engagement with new measurement tools, we may drown in information but learn very little.”Professor Colin Brown of the Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, who chaired one of the panels, commented, “The workshop brought together participants with a diversity of expertise who recognised that, when dealing with complex social and environmental problems, the intelligent use of information technology can be a strong driver of regulation and behavioural change”.Dr James Cunningham of the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change, and also a panel chair at the workshop, added, “Workshop participants had the opportunity to hear about radical and incremental ICT innovations adopted by regulation agencies in Ireland and UK.  The interactions and discussions among this policy, practice and regulatory agencies highlighted significant multidisciplinary research themes.”The workshop was funded by NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy Research, the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change, and the Irish Research Council. For more details, contact Rónán Kennedy at ronan.m.kennedy@nuigalway.ie or +353-91-495626  

The largest and best attended Summer School on international disability law again brought together leading international activists, policy-influencers and others connected with the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  The summer school rann from 17 June to 22 June in Aras Moyola, NUI Galway. The theme this year was VOICE (restoring full legal capacity) and CHOICE (achieving community living in accordance with the wishes and preferences of the person).  The programme had many practical exercises to get participants thinking about the meaning of the convention and its practical relevance, with a teaching faculty drawn from around the world and includes many involved in drafting the convention.  Participants came from over 20 countries including Africa and Asia, which is a learning opportunity in itself.  For more details and photographs of the summer school, please visit the CDLP's website.      

Over 150 international lawyers and diplomats attended the 37th Annual Oceans Law and Policy Conference, which took place in Seoul, from 1-4 May 2013. This year’s conference reviewed a broad range of contemporary issues concerning global challenges and the freedom of navigation including maritime boundaries in the China Sea, recent developments in EU law, petroleum law, energy security, piracy, transnational threats to international peace and stability, the Arctic Ocean, marine environmental protection, as well as scientific research.The Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia and the Korean Maritime Institute were the primary organisers with additional support from the School of Law, NUI Galway, the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore, and the South China Sea Institute at Xiamen University.Conference photos can be found on Picasa. Conference proceedings will be published by Nijhoff and distributed worldwide. ‌ Pictured above is Professor Long presenting a paper at the 2013 Conference.

In celebration of 21 years of Occupational Health and Safety education delivery, NUI Galway hosted a conference entitled ‘Occupational Health and Safety: A Pioneering Past and a Bright Future’ on the 14th & 15th of June. The University has a long history in Occupational Health and Safety education at postgraduate level through its Higher Diploma and MSc programmes, having graduated over 1000 students, many of whom have made major contributions in industry, government and academia both in Ireland and around the world. Invited speakers from industries such as Shell, Baxter, INTERPOL, Alkermes, HSE Australia, HSA Ireland presented their perspectives in a European context, whom were all NUI Galway graduates from the programmes. A keynote address was delivered by Herbert Mulligan of the Health and Safety Review, which discussed ‘Health and Safety Legislation and Case Law: Past, Present and Future’ with a very interesting address from Ursula Connolly from the School of Law on ‘Bullying in Irish Workplaces – legal remedies and proposals for reform’ The programmes are multidisciplinary in nature, involving contributions from the Colleges of Science, Business and Public Policy and Law, Engineering and Informatics and Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Deirdre Callanan, who was the organiser of the event, delivers the Health and Safety module on these programmes.

The LL.M in Public Law programme at the School of Law, NUI Galway, hosted the 5th Annual Conference of the Irish Society of Comparative Law on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th of May 2013.  Over 50 legal academics and practitioners from Ireland, other European countries, the U.S., Uganda, Japan and China presented papers at the Conference on the overarching theme of comparative public law.  Topics presented at the conference ranged from ‘children in rainbow families’ to ‘equality in healthcare’, ‘cyberbullying’, ‘money laundering’ and the question of ‘constitutional rights for human-animal hybrids and chimeras’. Professor Brice Dickson from Queens University Belfast presented a keynote paper entitled ‘The Irish Supreme Court in Comparative Perspective’ to which former Supreme Court Judge, the Hon Mrs Catherine McGuinness, who is an Adjunct Professor of Law at NUI Galway, gave an energetic response on the jurisprudence and workings of the Supreme Court and the need for reform.  The other keynote speaker was Professor Susan Farran of the University of Northumbria who presented a paper entitled ‘The age of Empire. Again: critical thoughts on legal imperialism’. Pictured above is the NUI Galway ISCL annual conference organisation committee, the the ISCL Committee and the President of NUI Galway, Dr. Jim Browne.

Graduate students in the Law School at NUI Galway held a conference on the theme of “Law, Technology and Governance” on 27 May where this year's LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance class presented their thesis for discussion and feedback. Amongst the topics discussed were electronic commerce, Internet piracy, privacy online, Internet gambling and stem cell research. Pictured above are staff and students at the Law, Technology and Governance conference.

The School of Law, NUI Galway and the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) hosted a conference entitled, "Developing Clinical Legal Education in Ireland" on Friday 26th & Saturday 27th April 2013. The conference served as the launch of the newly-formed Irish Clinical Legal Education Association (ICLEA). The Irish Clinical Legal Education Association will seek to enhance and expand clinical legal education programmes in law schools in Ireland by providing a forum to share experiences and foster collaboration; by lobbying collectively for necessary resources; and by ensuring optimum international engagement with clinical legal educators in other jurisdictions.This conference brought together experienced and emerging clinical legal practitioners, academics, clinical partners (e.g., NGOs, solicitors, barristers, state/quasi-state bodies) and students to explore the emergence and assess the future potential of clinical legal education in Ireland. Larry Donnelly, Lecturer and Director of Clinical Legal Education in the School of Law, NUI Galway, was elected the first President of the Irish Clinical Legal Education Association (ICLEA). He wrote a piece for the Irish Times on 6 May on the conference.

The School of Law and the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway held a Conference on Mediation in Cases of International Family Conflict and Child Abduction in in association with The Irish Centre for International Family Mediation on 18 May 2013. Irish and international speakers and experts in the field and representatives of the EU Network of International Family Mediators addressed the Conference. The conference was opened by His Honour Mr. Justice Henry Abbott, and chaired by Prof. Donncha O’Connell, Head of the School of Law (NUIG).Prof. Patrick  Dolan, UNESCO Chair and Director Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway gave some preliminary remarks for the Child’s perspective on the potentially positive effects of mediation. Presentations were given by Hilde Demarré, Project Manager, Child Focus, Brussels, Belgium on 'An Introduction to the concept of International Family Mediation, the Model and EU-NIM'; Judge Eberhard Carl (Retd.) Former Head of the Mediation Section, Federal Ministry of Justice, Berlin, Germany on 'The Judicial perspective on Mediation in International Family cases' and Dr. Mohamed M Keshavjee, BL (Gray’s Inn) International Family Mediator, (Author – Islam, The Sharia and ADR) on 'A Cross Cultural & non-EU perspective'. The Family Mediation Service carried out a demonstration role play of an International Family Mediation. The conference rapporteur was Sabine Walsh, Accredited International Family Mediator, Member EU-NIM,. The moderator and chief organiser was Lughaidh Kerin, Lecturer, School of Law, NUIG.

Professor Donncha O’Connell took up office today as Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway having recently been appointed to an Established Chair in Law. He served a term as Dean of Law from 2005-2008 after which he spent a year as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE). He is also a part-time Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission, a member of the Legal Aid Board and editor of the Irish Human Rights Law Review. P...rofessor O’Connell teaches Constitutional Law and European Human Rights to undergraduate students. He also teaches two postgraduate courses: Advocacy, Activism & Public Interest Law and Processes of Law Reform. He has extensive experience in human rights activism having served in the past as the first full-time Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and as a board member of Amnesty International – Ireland, the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA) and INTERIGHTS. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Druid Theatre Company and a trustee of Counterpoint Arts. Originally from Swinford, Co. Mayo, Professor O’Connell was educated at NUIG (UCG), The Honorable Society of the King’s Inns and Edinburgh University.

Judge Catherine McGuinness was appointed today as Chair of NUI Galway's Údarás na hOllscoile (Governing Authority). Údarás na hOllscoile, the University's Governing Authority, is responsible for managing and controlling all of the affairs of the University. Catherine McGuinness is a retired Supreme Court judge, former senator and lifelong activist. In January 2012 she was appointed to the Council of State by President Michael D. Higgins. Judge McGuinness was called to the Bar in 1977 and to the Inner Bar in 1989. She was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1979-82 and was previously a member of the Council of State from 1988-90. She served as a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1994-1996; of the High Court from 1996-2000; and of the Supreme Court from 2000-2006. From 2005-2011 she was President of the Law Reform Commission. She is currently Adjunct Professor of Law at NUI Galway. In addition to her judicial career, Catherine McGuinness has served on the Employment Equality Agency, the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and the Irish Universities Quality Board. In June 2011 she became patron of the Irish Refugee Council and in November 2011 she was appointed Chairperson of the "Campaign for Children". She has also just completed her role as personal representative to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through Ireland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE during 2012 in the field of Human Rights and on the Freedom of Religion. Speaking of the appointment, Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway said: "Judge Catherine McGuinness brings a unique breadth of experience and judgement to the role of Chairperson of Údarás na hOllscoile. We are delighted and privileged that she will chair the University's Governing Authority for the next three years.  My colleagues and I look forward to working with her to further develop NUI Galway and our ambitious plans for the future.” Judge McGuinness commented from NUI Galway on her appointment: “I am hugely honoured to be appointed as Chair of the Governing Authority. I have many connections with Galway, even apart from being Adjunct Professor at the School of Law here at NUI Galway, and am delighted to be able to strengthen these connections and I hope over the next few years  to help the University in achieving its mission.” Judge McGuinness’s term of office extends to 2016. ENDS ____________________ An Breitheamh McGuinness Ceaptha ina Cathaoirleach ar Údarás na hOllscoile in OÉ Gaillimh Ceapadh an Breitheamh Catherine McGuinness inniu ina Cathaoirleach ar Údarás na hOllscoile in OÉ Gaillimh. Tá Údarás na hOllscoile freagrach as gnóthaí uile na hOllscoile a bhainistiú agus a rialú. Is breitheamh ar scor ón gCúirt Uachtarach í Catherine McGuinness, is iarsheanadóir í freisin agus tá sí ina gníomhaíoch i rith a saoil. In Eanáir 2012, cheap an tUachtarán Micheál D. Ó hUiginn ar an gComhairle Stáit í. Glaodh ar an mBreitheamh McGuinness chun an Bharra i 1977 agus chun Barra na Sinsear i 1989. Bhí sí ina comhalta de Sheanad Éireann ó 1979-82 agus roimhe seo chomh maith bhí sí ina comhalta den Chomhairle Stáit ó 1988-90. Bhí sí ina breitheamh sa Chúirt Chuarda ó 1994-1996; san Ardchúirt ó 1996-2000; agus sa Chúirt Uachtarach ó 2000-2006. Ó 2005-2011, bhí sí ina hUachtarán ar an gCoimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí. Tá sí ina hOllamh Cúnta le Dlí in OÉ Gaillimh faoi láthair. Sa bhreis ar a gairm mar bhreitheamh, tá sealanna caite ag Catherine McGuinness leis an nGníomhaireacht um Chomhionannas Fostaíochta, an Fóram um Shíocháin agus Athmhuintearas agus Bord Feabhais Ollscoileanna na hÉireann. I Meitheamh na bliana 2011, ceapadh í ina pátrún ar Chomhairle Dídeanaithe na hÉireann agus i mí na Samhna 2011, ceapadh í ina Cathaoirleach ar "Campaign for Children". Tá sí díreach tar éis a seal a chur isteach mar ionadaí pearsanta ag an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha i rith Chathaoirleacht na hÉireann ar Eagraíocht na Náisiún Aontaithe um Shlándáil agus Chomhoibriú san Eoraip (OSCE) in 2012 i réimse na gCeart Daonna agus na Saoirse Creidimh. Ag labhairt dó faoin gceapachán, dúirt an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Tugann an Breitheamh Catherine McGuinness taithí agus breithiúnas ar leith chuig an ról mar Chathaoirleach ar Údarás na hOllscoile. Is mór an phribhléid agus an t-údar bróid dúinn go mbeidh sí ina cathaoirleach ar Údarás na hOllscoile sna trí bliana seo romhainn.  Táim féin agus mo chomhghleacaithe ag súil go mór le bheith ag obair léi chun OÉ Gaillimh agus ár bpleananna uaillmhianacha don todhchaí a bhrú chun cinn.” Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an mBreitheamh McGuinness in OÉ Gaillimh faoina ceapachán: “Is mór an onóir dom a bheith ceaptha mar Chathaoirleach ar Údarás na hOllscoile. Is iomaí sin nasc atá agam le Gaillimh, seachas a bheith i m’Ollamh Cúnta i Scoil an Dlí in OÉ Gaillimh, agus is mór agam a bheith in ann na naisc sin a threisiú agus táim ag súil go mbeidh mé in ann cabhrú leis an Ollscoil a misean a bhaint amach as seo go ceann cúpla bliain.” Mairfidh téarma oifige an Bhreithimh McGuinness go dtí 2016. -Críoch

The School of Law is delighted that our students excelled at the 12th International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR) Annual International Law School Mediation Tournament which was held this year in Dublin by the Law Society of Ireland. The performance of the NUIG teams of (T1) Tamara Cassidy, Karolyn Place & Kieran Touhy and (T2) Cassie Roddy, Tatiana Kelly & Eoghan Clogher contributed to NUIG being awarded “Outstanding New Mediation Program”. On an individual level, Karolyn Place (3rd BCL) finished 10th overall in the “Individual Mediator Awards” and Cassie Roddy (3rd LLB) & Tatiana Kelly (3rd LLB) finished joint 5th in the “Individual Advocate/Client Awards”. They are to be commended for these achievements. As this was an INADR Tournament the USA Law Schools had to qualify to attend the Dublin final, so we were competing against the best of the best. The tournament involved law schools from North America (Cornell, Fordham, Chapman, Loyola (Chicago), Northeastern, John Marshall, Tulane, Michigan State & Saskatchewan to name a few), Australia (Murdoch Uni.), India (Bhopal, Deli & National Law School of India), Europe (John Moores, Kent & Winchester (England), IPLS & Strathclyde (Scotland), Augsburg & Ludwig- Maximilians (Germany). The tournament comprised 36 teams of three, totalling 108 competitors.   

On Friday 8 March, the LL.M. in Public Law and LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance convened a symposium on “Privacy from Birth to Death and Beyond: European and American Perspectives”.Speakers included Mr. José María Baño, Instituto de Empresa and José María Baño León Abogados, Madrid; Professor Joshua Fairfield of the Washington and Lee University Law School; Dr. Sharon McLaughlin, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Mr. Paul Lambert, Merrion Legal Solicitors and Mr. Damien McCallig, School of Law, NUI Galway. The event attracted almost 100 people, including undergraduate and postgraduate students from NUI Galway and elsewhere, staff from across the university and practising lawyers, journalists and others with an interest in the impact of new technologies on privacy in the information age. Discussion ranged from whether we have a “right to be forgotten” online, the role of contract law in protecting consumer privacy, the confused rules that govern post-mortem privacy, how to balance the participation and protection of children in the online world and the challenges that face practitioners who have to rely on case law and legislation that were developed without the digital environment in mind. The symposium was a fascinating and provocative exploration of an issue that has gone from a minority concern to headline news in a few short years, and has changed dramatically even over the past twelve months. The SCRIPTed Journal of Law, Technology & Society posted a report on the symposium as part of a special issue on post-mortem privacy.

The Law Reform Commission will hold a public consultation on its Fourth Programme of Law Reform in Áras Moyola, NUI Galway at 7.30pm on Wednesday 27th February. The event will be chaired by the Commission President, Mr. Justice John Quirke, and there will be two contributions from invited speakers: Judge Tom O'Donnell of the Circuit Court and , an Irish Research Council-funded Ph.D candidate in the School of Law, NUI Galway. The purpose of the evening is to hear the views of members of the public on what should be contained in the Fourth Programme of Law Reform. Members of the Law Reform Commission will be in attendance in a listening capacity, including Tom O'Malley and Donncha O'Connell from the School of Law. The event is open to the public and there is no admission charge. The Law Reform Commission is a statutory body, established by the Law Reform Commission Act 1975, with a mandate to keep the law under review, to undertake examinations and conduct research with a view to reforming the law, and to formulate proposals for law reform. Having completed the majority of the projects set out in its Third Programme of Law Reform, the Law Reform Commission is now in the process of preparing a new Programme of Law Reform which will form the principal basis of the Commission’s work over the coming years, subject to approval by the Government. Further information is available on thier website www.lawreform.ie and any enquiries may be sent to fourthprogramme@lawreform.ie.  

The Moot Court Module final took place last Saturday in Galway Courthouse. The victorious Team of Trevor Glavey and Simona Siskauskaite narrowly overcame Tatiana Kelly and Feidhlim Seoige in a thrilling final moot which exhibited everything that is positive about mooting. The School would like to thank the three judges for their time and effort: Justice Mathilda Twomey (Court of Appeals, Seychelles), Justice Rory MacCabe (Circuit Court) and Judge Mary Larkin (District Court). Special tribute to all sixteen mooters for their application, effort and enthusiasm over the last three months which culminated in some fantastic mooting and to the staff who so generously gave of their time; in particular Ursula Ni Chonghaile for drafting the interesting Moot fact pattern, Tom O’Malley, John Countryman (visiting Fulbright Scholar) and Conor Hanly for giving guest lectures and Rónán Kennedy who was kind enough to address the Class and give them critical feedback in relation to their draft submissions.The team mentors were Donncha O’Connell, Charles O’Mahony, Nicola Murphy, Dr. Noelle Higgins, Dr. Tom Hickey, Thomas Mc Donagh, Dr. Joe McGrath and Dr. Laurent Pech, with Laurent’s team emerging victorious.

Papers are invited from scholars and practitioners across all disciplines for a workshop on the application of information and communications technology for environmental regulation. This workshop, "Information and Communications Technology for Environmental Regulation: Developing a Research Agenda", will take place from Thursday 20 June - Friday 21 June 2013. The keynote speaker is Professor Bradley C. Karkkainen (University of Minnesota School of Law). Further information can be obtained via http://www.conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=205 The aim of this workshop is to build a network of researchers dealing with these issues in order to prepare joint projects, funding applications and work towards an international conference dealing with this topic. The workshop will discuss the development of a coherent but multi-disciplinary research agenda for ICT and environment regulation and agree detailed proposals for future work in the area, such as the publication of an edited collection, funding applications or an international conference. It is aimed at those who work on issues related to the use of ICT in environmental regulation, whether as academic researchers, practitioners based in regulatory agencies, or activists in NGOs, such as lawyers, IS/IT/GIS specialists, environmental informatics specialists, economists, public policy researchers, psychologists, sociologists and other social science researchers. Topics include: (but are not limited to): Data for environmental regulation Disclosure as a regulatory tool E-government studies of environmental regulation Geographical Information Systems and environmental regulation Freedom of information law and policy Green IT/IS Sustainable computing ICT and social responsibility ICT and reflexive law ICT and transparency ICT as a tool for behaviour change Information as a tool of regulation or governance Remote sensing Satellite monitoring The automation or digitisation of regulation The impact of ICT on regulatory processes The role of models in the policy and legal process The role of non-governmental organisations The role of science in the policy and legal process Submission Deadline: Friday 15 March 2013.Acceptance Notification: Friday 12 April 2013.Workshop: Thursday 20 & Friday 21 June 2013.A limited amount of funding is available for the best student abstract. This workshop is funded by the Irish Research Council, the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change, and the Environment, Development and Sustainability cluster of the Whitaker Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway. Enquiries to: ronan.m.kennedy@nuigalway.ie or to Rónán Kennedy (School of Law, National University of Ireland Galway) at +353-91-495626

The School of Law are delighted to announce that Mahmoud Abukhadir (2nd. B. Corporate Law) was the overall winner of the A & L Goodbody Bold Ideas Award 2012 – Law Student Competition. His submission on the topic “The business of law in a connected world”  impressed a judging panel made up of Michael McDowell, Senior Counsel and former Attorney General); Cliodhna O'Sullivan, Head of Legal in Telefónica Ireland and John Whelan, A&L Goodbody Partner. This prestigious award includes an internship in one of A&L Goodbody's offices in Dublin, London or New York and a cash prize of €3,000. More details are available here: http://www.algoodbody.ie/boldideasaward

Dr. Ronán Long delivered a paper on dispute settlement and moderated a session at the United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme meeting, which was hosted by the Legal Affairs Division at the United Nations on December 10-12, 2012. The meeting built upon similar capacity building initiatives undertaken previously in Nairobi and Tokyo and coincided with the United Nations General Assembly commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  The School of Law has collaborated with the UN since the inception of the programme by hosting mid-career legal professionals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Guatemala.  In his address to the General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted the commitment of the UN to the future growth of capacity building programmes over the coming decade including those hosted by universities in partnership with the Division on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea at the UN.

Robin Tipps, a Sociology-Criminology student from the University of Oklahoma, has been awarded a George J. Mitchell Scholarship to study Public Law at NUI Galway next September. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship, awarded by the US-Ireland Alliance, funds one year of graduate study in Ireland and Northern Ireland to students who satisfy requirements for an Irish master's degree. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship honours the former U.S. senator's contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process and was established in 1999. This year 12 scholars representing a cross-section of American students have been awarded the scholarship on the basis of academic distinction, leadership and service. Among their achievements, they count breaking the cryptic code of Rhode Island founder Roger Williams, tutoring underserved children and improving the performance of biofuels. Robin, a member of the Quapaw Tribe, was raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma and will graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in sociology-criminology in 2013. He has been the Senior Vice-Chair of Investigations for his University’s Integrity Council and hopes to become a tribal attorney and the chairman of his tribe. His many service activities include work at the same-day surgery clinic at Norman Regional Hospital and as Collections Assistant at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. The son of a Quapaw mother and a Caucasian father, Robin has thought a great deal about Native American identity. He grew up 300 miles from tribal headquarters, and the annual ritual of Pow Wow took on great meaning for him, as it was the time when he could connect most easily with his Native American heritage. Marie McGonagle, Director of the LLM in Public law at NUI Galway, express her delight that Robin had chosen the Public Law programme, the second winner of a prestigious Mitchell scholarship to do so in three years. “Robin will be a very welcome addition to the class and I hope he will find the many opportunities presented to students on the programme to attend conferences and engage with public bodies beneficial to his future career.”

A call for papers for the Irish Society of Comparative Law Annual Conference has been issued. This conference will take place at NUI Galway on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th of May 2013.  The theme of the 2013 conference is 'Comparative Public Law'.  Papers placing Irish public law in comparative perspective are especially encouraged, but any topic in comparative or legal systems may be proposed including private law topics. Proposals for thematic panels of papers are also welcomed. The primary objective of the Irish Society of Comparative Law is to encourage the comparative study of law and legal systems. Students fully registered for a masters in law, or law-related area (LL.M, MA) are encouraged to submit papers, and the 2nd ISCL Young Researcher Prize will be awarded to the best paper delivered by a student in this category. Proposals for papers for the 2013 conference should be short (250 words max) and sent to Charles O’Mahony at charles.omahony@nuigalway.ie. The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday 15 February 2013. Applicants will be notified by Thursday 28th February 2013 if their paper proposal is successful. There will be an opportunity for poster presentations (Posters A1 size) to be displayed in the foyer of the conference venue, Aras Moyola. Poster presenters are expected to attend the conference in the normal way and to be available to discuss their work. You do not have to be a member of the ISCL to propose a paper or be selected to present a poster. Registration forms and additional information will be available early in 2013. Full information is available in the following PDF: LLM Call for Papers ISCL 2013.

The School of Law is delighted to award the following prizes for 2012. Congratulations to all the recipients.i)    Lexis Nexis Butterworths (Ireland) Law PrizeAndrew Hannon (3rd BA Legal Studies)ii)    The Thomson Reuters – Round Hall Prize Ruth Cormican (3rd BA Legal Studies)iii)    The Val O’Connor Memorial Prize in Equity(Joint Award) – Elaine Whelan (3rd Civil Law) and Eleanor Golden (3rd Civil Law)iv)    The Michael MacNamara Scholarship sponsored by RDJ Glynn SolicitorsEmmet Creighton (LLM in Law, Technology & Governance)v)    Gold Medal CDLP Excellence Award 2012 Elizabeth Kamundia (LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy)vi)    CDLP Scholarship Award 2012Emily Loughlin (LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy)

The renowned UN human rights expert, Professor Michael O’Flaherty FRSA, has been appointed as Professor of Human Rights Law at the National University of Ireland Galway. He will also serve as Director of the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights. Professor O’Flaherty will combine the new roles with his current commitment as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. During the period that Professor O’Flaherty remains at the Northern Ireland Commission the Irish Centre for Human Rights will be co-directed by Professor Ray Murphy.Since October 2011, Professor O’Flaherty has been Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Commission advises the government and is responsible for protecting and promoting human rights throughout Northern Ireland. It is also empowered to help people whose rights may have been denied and can carry out its own investigations.Professor O’Flaherty has worked the UK university sector since 2003 as Professor of Applied Human Rights and Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the School of Law in University of Nottingham.A native of Galway, Professor O’Flaherty has a distinguished reputation in the human rights arena. Since 2004, he has been an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee and is currently a Vice-Chairperson. He is also a member of the UN Expert Group on Human Rights Indicators, serves on a number of human rights advisory bodies of the UK government and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.Professor O’Flaherty sits on committees of the European Roma Rights Centre, the Diplomacy Training Programme, the UN-UK Association, the World Organization Against Torture, the Hilde Back Education Fund and a number of other groups worldwide.Prior to taking up his posts at the University of Nottingham, he served in a number of senior positions with the United Nations. He established the UN human rights field missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994) and Sierra Leone (1998) and subsequently guided UN headquarters support to its human rights programmes across the Asia-Pacific region.National University of Ireland Galway President, Dr Jim Browne, welcomed the announcement: “Professor O’Flaherty brings an outstanding reputation to our School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights. Building on the strong foundations laid by his predecessor, Professor Bill Schabas, who retains an important connection with the Centre, Professor O’Flaherty will continue to develop the global reputation of the Centre for high quality academic programmes, leading edge research and engaged advocacy. Professor O’Flaherty brings a unique blend of academic skills and practical knowledge of human rights law which will enrich the teaching, research and outreach activities of the Centre.”Since its establishment in January 2000, the Irish Centre for Human Rights has developed a global reputation for excellence in the field of human rights teaching, research and advocacy.  Amongst the taught postgraduate programmes offered by the Centre are LL.M. in International Human Rights Law, Peace Operations and Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law. Additionally, under the auspices of the Law School, the Centre has built a strong doctoral studies programme, with a significant number of doctoral students supervised by individual staff members. At undergraduate level, the Irish Centre for Human Rights is integral to the University’s BA with Human Rights. The degree is the only one of its kind in Ireland to offer a Human Rights qualification at undergraduate level.

NUI Galway Law students Dara Geoghegan, Aaron Fahy and Michael Wilkins represented the School with distinction at the DCU National Moot Court Competition which took place on Saturday, 10 November 2012 in the Criminal Courts of Justice complex, Dublin.Hosted by the Socio-Legal Research Centre and School of Law and Government at DCU, and sponsored by Matheson Ormsby Prentice solicitors, the National Moot Court Competition 2012 is open to all those studying law at third level on the island of Ireland.

NUI Galway has announced details of a new scholarships scheme for postgraduate students designed to reward exceptional achievement. Postgraduate Scholarships valued at €1,500 per student will be awarded to all students studying a postgraduate taught Masters programme in the year 2013/14 who have a first class honours undergraduate degree. The new initiative is open to postgraduate students, applying for a fulltime Taught Masters programme due to commence in autumn 2013. Scholarships will be awarded to students accepted on a fulltime taught masters and who fulfill the criteria as outlined by the University.Interested students should visit the NUI Galway website for further detail about the scholarships and for information about the general postgraduate student application process: www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduate/scholarships. Hardiman Scholarships NUI Galway has also announced that Hardiman Scholarships will be available for new PhD students commencing in September 2013. These scholarships are fully-funded for 4 years, with a stipend of €16,000 p.a. plus fees.The Hardiman Scholarships offer opportunities for suitably qualified individuals to pursue a Structured PhD focused on the five key areas of research in which the University offers leading expertise. These are:- Biomedical Science and Engineering- Informatics, Physical, and Computational Sciences- Environment, Marine, and Energy- Applied Social Sciences and Public Policy- Humanities in Context Full information, including requirements and the application deadlines, can be obtained from www.nuigalway.ie/hardiman-scholarships.

Vital information on the proposed changes to the constitution, in advance of the forthcoming Children’s Referendum, will be presented at a public event at NUI Galway on Monday, 22 October. Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will deliver the keynote address. The seminar is expected to provide a stimulating dialogue about the implications of a YES vote in the Children’s Referendum, ahead of the 10 November vote. The seminar will be held in the Engineering Building in NUI Galway from 3pm - 4.30 pm and is jointly hosted by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and the School of Law of NUI Galway, in conjunction with the YES for Children Campaign. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD will provide a keynote address. The session will also feature an expert panel consisting of Fergal Landy from the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and Ciara Smyth from the School of Law at NUI Galway. The panel discussion will also offer members of the public an opportunity to hear a youth perspective on the proposed constitutional amendments and the audience will be invited to participate in a questions and answers session following the discussion. The Children’s Referendum has been welcomed by Professor Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement at NUI Galway as an “historical and internationally significant step”. Professor Dolan was co-author of a report on the proposed referendum earlier this year which pointed out that “incorporating a stronger commitment to children’s rights in the constitution would help to build a stronger culture of children’s rights in Irish society”. Professor Dolan will facilitate next week's event. This event is free of charge and all members of the public are invited to attend. Parking is available on the NUI Galway park and ride facility. For further information please visit: http://www.childandfamilyresearch.ie, or contact Danielle Kennan at: danielle.kennan@nuigalway.ie or +353 (0)91 495731.

Almost 4,000 students will graduate from NUI Galway during the Autumn Conferring Ceremonies which take place from 19-26 October. Students from the Bachelor of Civil Law, Bachelor of Corporate Law, Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) will graduate at a ceremony at 5pm on Tuesday, 23rd October 2012. The School of Law would like to congratulate all of our graduands and wish them the very best in their future careers.

The School of Law would like to congratulate two exceptional students, Cian Moran and Martin O'Dwyer, who were amongst the Highly Commended students of the Undergraduate Awards 2012 - an international academic awards programme that identifies top students across the globe through their innovative undergraduate research. Cian's essay, 'The Status and Protection of Humanitarian Workers in Armed Conflict' was completed under the supervision of  Prof. Ray Murphy. His interest in the Law Of International Armed Conflict came from serving in the Irish Army Reserves. Cian is now doing an LLM in International Law at the University of Nottingham after obtaining a scholarship to study there.Martin's essay, 'The seal of the confessional: Sacerdotal privilege in Ireland' was supervised by Dr. Sinead Ring. Martin has been a fisheries protection officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland for nearly 20 years.UA received 2,890 submissions overall and 203 from NUI Galway. Cian and Martin were within the top 10% in competition with students of top tier universities across the globe including Cambridge, St Andrews, Princeton, Trinity College, Yale, Queen's University and McGill.

Dr. Padraic Kenna was recently asked by DAFT.ie to comment on its House Price Report, now in its 52nd edition. This is based on an analysis of the full database of properties posted for advertisement on Daft.ie up to the end of September 2012, including the 15,000 posted in the third quarter of 2012. This figure represents a large percentage of the available properties for sale in the country and therefore gives a very accurate and timely reflection of what is actually happening in the Irish property market. Figures are calculated from econometric regressions using standard methods. Properties classed as sold are those that are no longer listed in daft.ie which were marked as sale agreed before coming off the site.

Pictured is Dr. Laurent Pech, our Jean Monnet Lecturer in EU Public Law, and Judge Sacha Prechal of the EU Court of Justice, at the Academy of European Law in Trier, Germany, earlier this week. In the context of a workshop dedicated to the role of the EU Court, Judge Prechal, who is also Professor of EU law at the Europa Institute of Utrecht University, spoke on the Court’s preliminary jurisdiction while Dr. Pech delivered a paper focusing on the impact of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Careers in Law Week took place the week of Monday, 17 September. This is an initiative by the School of Law in conjunction with the Career Development Centre. The highlight of the week was the law firms day on Tuesday afternoon in the Bailey Allen Hall, where Arthur Cox, William Fry, A&L Goodbody, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, Mason Hayes & Curran and Holmes O’Malley Sexton gave their presentations, followed by networking and refreshments.

NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O’Malley has been appointed by the Government to the Law Reform Commission. Donncha O Connell, also lecturer in law at the University, has been reappointed to the Commission. The Law Reform Commission is an independent, statutory body established under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975. Its purpose is to keep the law under review and to make recommendations for law reform in keeping with the changing nature of Irish society. Its scope was expanded in 2006 to include new projects on statute law restatement and the legislation directory. Tom O'Malley is a Senior Lecturer in Law and a practising barrister specialising in judicial review. He holds three first-class honours degrees from NUI Galway as well as the LL.M. degree from Yale University. He was a graduate fellow at Yale Law School in 1986-1987 and since then has taught at NUI Galway.  He was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford Centre for Criminology in 1992-1993 and earlier this year was Visiting Professor of Criminology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He has taught many different law subjects to degree level over the past 25 years including Constitutional Law, Contract, Land Law, Equity, Criminal Law, Criminology, Administrative Law and Evidence.  He currently offers two courses on the LL.M. (Public Law) programme, one on sentencing and penal policy and the other on criminal process. His main research interests are in the area of criminal law and criminal justice and he is the author of leading Irish treatises on sex offences, sentencing and criminal procedure. He has served on several committees and working groups at national and international level and is at present a member of the Steering Committee for the Irish Sentencing Information System. O’Connell was the Dean of Law at NUI Galway from 2005-2008 and he continues to teach European Human Rights and Constitutional Law in the School of Law as well as teaching postgraduate students in Processes of Law Reform and Advocacy, Activism & Public Interest Law. He has extensive experience on European human rights bodies having served as the Irish member of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights established by the EU Commission in 2002 and as the senior Irish member of FRALEX, the legal expert group that advised the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights based in Vienna. He spent the academic year 2009-2010 as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights LSE and is the editor of the Irish Human Rights Law Review published by Clarus Press. Donncha was the first full-time Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) from 1999-2002 and he has, in the past, been a board member of the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Ltd and Amnesty International-Ireland. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the London-based NGO, INTERIGHTS – The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Rights. He is also a member of the Legal Aid Board.

Making Your Decisions is a guide to support decision making for people with intellectual disability which originated in a partnership between the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, the Disability Law Reform module students from the LLM in Public Law, self advocates, and the parents’ group, ACT. The aim was to facilitate a real learning experience for students and to translate law into real life application. The Project Team are Edel Tierney (formerly NFVP), project leader, Dr. Mary Keys and Shivaun Quinlivan academic leaders, and LLM in Public Law graduates Conor Newman, Aoife O’Brien and Elaine Keane, supported by CKI. The full PDFs are available on the Law School's .

The fourth International Summer School at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway, was launched today (Monday, 18 June) by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. The Summer School, co-hosted by the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, will run from 18-23 June.Speaking at the Summer School, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins commended the University for their active scholarship and the Centre of Disability Law and Policy for the vital contribution it makes to informed thinking on disability related policy and issues in this country: “I am delighted to be here with you today to launch the 4th International Summer School in partnership with the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, which this year deals with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."This, as you know, is a convention that I strongly support and which, as a public representative, I called upon successive Governments to ratify. This summer school and the other educational opportunities that you afford to students will educate them in the policies and reforms required to ensure that people with disabilities can be treated as Equal Citizens in Irish Society and that once ratified the requirements of the Convention will become the benchmark for all disability related policies.” The Summer School is designed to equip participants with the insights and skills necessary to translate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into tangible reform for persons with disabilities. President Higgins has a great interest in disability issues and has been a tireless campaigner throughout his long political life for the rights and interests of persons with disabilities in Ireland and internationally.The teaching faculty for the School includes high profile senior academics, practitioners and policy makers from around the world who have been directly and actively engaged in drafting and implementing the Convention. The estimated 100 attendees will similarly be from around the world and will include people with disabilities, their families, representatives from civil society groups as well as advocates for disability law reform, lawyers, policy makers and policy analysts.The School is directed by Professor Gerard Quinn of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the School of Law, NUI Galway along with and Professor Michael Stein of Harvard Law School. Professor Quinn is a co-drafter of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and internationally recognised as a leader in the field of advancing the right of disabled people.Professor Gerard Quinn said: “This Summer School is all about power – restoring power to persons with disabilities over their own lives and giving them knowledge and skills based on the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Above all the School belongs to the people affected and is structured in such a way as to enable people explore for themselves the relevance of the Convention in their own lives and in the process of change.”Speaking at the event, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, welcomed visitors and delegates from 29 different countries: “I know of the deep links between Harvard and our Centre for Disability Law and Policy and am delighted to acknowledge this wonderful, continuing collaboration at this the fourth International Summer School held by the Centre.“The impact of this Summer School is truly global. The faculty and speakers include experts who were active in drafting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as leading thought-leaders from around the world. This Summer School serves to give delegates the tools to implement this very important treaty and is a wonderful example of scholarship in action.” Further information, including the programme and speaker profiles is available from the Summer School website at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/summer_school/2012/welcome.htmlOn the last day of Summer School, Saturday, 23 June, the Centre for Disability Law and Policy will also host a one day international conference Mental Health Law Reform: New Perspectives and Challenges. This event will be held in conjunction with Amnesty International and will examine issues relevant to the review Mental Health Act 2001 including Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as it moves towards ratification. The conference is aimed at experts by experience, legal practitioners, mental health professionals, advocates, academics, policy makers, politicians, NGOs and any person or organisation interested in mental health law and policy.

T‌‌‌he Law School is happy to announce the publication of the School's news bulletin for the 2011/12 academic year. It can be downloaded here: School of Law 2011/12 Bulletin (PDF, 2Mb).

The Law School is pleased to announce that Ciara Staunton, a PhD student in the School of Law, has been appointed a Director of the Irish Stem Cell Foundation in her capacity as legal advisor to the foundation. Ireland's national stem cell foundation and is a member of the International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks. Its mission is to educate the public on stem cell therapies as well as to lobby for the introduction of regulations for stem cell research in Ireland. Its other directors include Prof Orla Hardiman, Dr Stephen Sullivan and patient advocate Martin Codyre. Ciara is a IRCHSS Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholar. Her thesis, 'The Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Ireland' is being supervised by Dr. Mary Keys and Dr. Cliona Kelly. Her Graduate Research Committee comprises Dr. Laurent Pech, Shivaun Quinlivan and Dr. Richard Hull.

On 28 May, students in the LL.M. in Law, Technology and Governance presented their thesis topics at a public conference.The conference was opened by the Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, Professor Willie Golden, and the keynote was given by Professor James Devenney of the University of Exeter, who spoke on “Towards a European Contract Law?”. Amongst the topics discussed were electronic commerce, Internet piracy and innovation, data retention, financial regulation and corporate governance.  The event was well-attended, with a strong turnout by local practitioners, who were very impressed by the depth of knowledge and engagement in their research demonstrated by the students.

The first international housing research conference, 'Contemporary Housing Issues in a Changing Europe,' was held on 20th/21st April 2012 at NUI Galway. Hosted by Dr Padraic Kenna and the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy, the event attracted over 130 participants from Europe, the US and Israel, with some 35 research papers presented.  Pictured above is Dr. Jim Browne, President NUI Galway, Ms Jan O Sullivan, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Housing and Planning and Dr Padraic Kenna, Conference Organiser. Among the key speakers at the plenary conference proceedings were Professor Sergio Nasarre-Aznar, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Coordinator of Legal Aspects of Housing, Land and Planning Group, European Network of Housing Researchers; Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter, Council of Europe; The Hon. Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy, High Court of Ireland; Minister Ms Jan O’ Sullivan T.D.; Professor Stefan Gerlach, Deputy Governor Central Bank of Ireland; Professor Martin Partington, Law Commission of England and Wales; Professor Lorna Fox O’Mahony, Law School, University of Durham; Mr Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos, Head of Equality and Citizen’s Rights, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

Law School lecturer Dr Mary Keys was among the new Appointments to the Mental Health Commission by Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People. The new Commission will be chaired by Mr John Saunders, Director of Shine the national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by mental illness. The other members of the Commission include representatives of the medical, nursing, other health and legal professionals, voluntary bodies, mental health service users and the general public. More information can found in the press release from the Department of Health.

Law School lecturer Rónán Kennedy was among the successful applicants for the 2012 National Digital Learning Resources (NDLR) Programme for Learning Innovation Projects (LIP). Rónán's successful bid, in a joint Galway-UL-DIT project, proposes to convert existing material in legal research and writing to more open formats, create processes for conversion in the future and share the output with the NDLR.

The School of Law would like to congratulate 3rd year BCL student Donnacha O'Sullivan, whose Family Law essay "A critical analysis of the protection of families under the Irish Constitution of 1937" was accepted for publication for the 11th ed. of the Cork Online Law Review. He has also been awarded the best overall submission for this edition and will receive a medal and 300 euro. Congratulations also to his essay supervisor, Dr. Anne Egan.    

NUI Galway law lecturer, Donncha O’Connell, has been appointed by the Government, on the nomination of Attorney General, Máire Whelan, SC, to the Law Reform Commission to replace Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell of the Supreme Court. He will serve as a part-time Commissioner. The Law Reform Commission is an independent, statutory body established under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975. Its purpose is to keep the law under review and to make recommendations for law reform in keeping with the changing nature of Irish society. Its scope was expanded in 2006 to include new projects on statute law restatement and the legislation directory. O’Connell was the Dean of Law at NUI Galway from 2005-2008 and he continues to teach European Human Rights and Constitutional Law in the School of Law. He has extensive experience on European human rights bodies having served as the Irish member of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights established by the EU Commission in 2002 and as the senior Irish member of FRALEX, the legal expert group that advised the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights based in Vienna. He spent the academic year 2009-2010 as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights LSE and is the editor of the Irish Human Rights Law Review published annually by Clarus Press. Donncha was the first full-time Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) from 1999-2002 and he has, in the past, been a board member of the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Ltd and Amnesty International-Ireland. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the London-based NGO, INTERIGHTS – The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Rights. He is also a member of the Legal Aid Board.

Dr. Mary Keys, representing the Mental Health Commission, made a presentation on 22 February to the Oireachtas Justice Committee in the Oireachtas on the proposed Legal Capacity Bill. The full text of the discussion and video recording are available online from http://oireachtascommittees.tv/

Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy and Judge Catherine McGuinness, Adjunct Professor of Law have been appointed by President Michael D. Higgins to sit on the Council of State. Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Professor Emeritus in History has also been nominated by the President. Other nominees include Mr Michael Farrell, Professor Deirdre Heenan, Mr Ruairí McKiernan and Ms Sally Mulready.Professor Gerard QuinnProfessor Gerard Quinn is the Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the NUI Galway School of Law. The Centre is part of a new Lifecourse Policy Research Institute at the University which researches policy innovation covering age, child and family as well as disability. He is a graduate of UCG (BA, LL.B.), was called to the Irish Bar in 1983 and holds a masters (LL.M.) and doctorate in law (S.J.D.) from Harvard Law School. His specialization is international and comparative disability law and policy. Professor Quinn led the delegation of Rehabilitation International (RI) at the UN Working Group that elaborated the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He has worked in the European Commission and held a number of posts such as Director of Research at the Law Reform Commission and First Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights (Council of Europe). He is a former member of the Irish Human Rights Commission. He voluntarily participates on a number of international boards dealing with disability law and policy issues. Judge Catherine McGuinness Judge Catherine McGuinness was called to the Bar in 1977 and to the Inner Bar in 1989. She was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1979-82 and was a previous member of the Council of State from 1988-90. She served as a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1994-1996, of the High Court from 1996-2000 and of the Supreme Court from 2000-2006. From 2005-2011, she was President of the Law Reform Commission. She is currently the Adjunct Professor of Law at NUI Galway. Professor Gearóid Ó TuathaighGearóid Ó Tuathaigh is Professor Emeritus in History and former Dean of Arts and Vice-President of NUI Galway. A former member of the Senate of the NUI and of the Irish-US Fulbright Commission, and a former Cathaoirleach of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Professor Ó Tuathaigh has published widely – in Irish and English – on many aspects of modern Irish history.Michael FarrellMichael Farrell is the senior solicitor with Free Legal Advice Centres. He was involved in the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland and is a former co-chairperson of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Michael was a member of the Irish Human Rights Commission from 2001 until last year and is currently the Irish member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. He is also a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society.Professor Deirdre HeenanDeirdre Heenan is Provost and Dean of Academic Development for the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus, where she a member of the Senior Management Team. She was appointed to a Lectureship in Policy Studies at the University of Ulster in 1995 and became a Professor in 2007. Professor Heenan is a co-founder and former co-director of the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey which has become a key statistical resource for schools, academics and policy makers. Her particular areas of expertise are devolution, education and social care.In 2008-9 Deirdre spent nine-months working as a policy adviser in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. Last year she was appointed by Health Minister, Edwin Poots, to join the five strong panel of advisers to assist with the Review of Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland.Ruairí McKiernanRuairí McKiernan is a community activist and social entrepreneur. He is the founder of the national youth organisation SpunOut.ie. He is also a founder and organiser of the Possibilities 2011 Social Summit. Ruairí is a business graduate and is a recipient of numerous awards including a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Award, a Net Visionary Award, and a Junior Chambers International Award. After 8 years as CEO of SpunOut.ie, he recently stepped down to develop new social innovations.Sally MulreadySally Mulready has made a huge contribution to the Irish emigrant community in Britain over many decades. She was born in Dublin and moved to Hackney, London with her mother in the 1970s. Sally is a local Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hackney since 1997. In her former capacity as the Secretary of the Federation of Irish Societies, Sally was involved in securing the Irish Government’s agreement for the creation and funding of five Survivor Outreach Services in Britain. She is also a founder member of the Irish Women’s Survivors Network and Director of the Irish Elderly Advice Network. Sally was prominently involved in the campaign to free the Birmingham Six and is currently active in the Magdalene Laundries issue.

The winners of this year’s edition of the Undergraduate Awards of Ireland and Northern Ireland have just been announced. The School of Law are delighted that Trevor Glavey (B. Corporate Law) has been declared the winner of the Law Category! This is the first time an NUI Galway law student has won this award. Trevor is expected to receive his medal from the President of Ireland in Dublin Castle during a gala lunch on October 28th courtesy of his essay on The Enforcement of EU Competition Law and Respect for Human Rights.