NUIG School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights: Policing, Human Rights and Communities – 26 April

Date: 26 April 2019

Time: 9am-5.30pm

Venue: Aula Maxima (Lower), National University of Ireland Galway

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland published a major report on the future of policing in Ireland in September 2018. In December 2018, the Government published an Implementation Plan accepting all of the recommendations of the Commission and committing to an implementation timeline. The Commission was unequivocal in its statement that Human Rights are the foundation and purpose of policing and in its commitment to the core value of policing with communities.

This one-day conference on the theme of 'Policing, Human Rights & Communities', hosted by the School of Law and Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway (with support from the Government of Ireland / Rialtas na hÉireann), is a timely opportunity to reflect on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing and on their progressive implementation.

PROGRAMME

Registration from 9am-9.30am

9.30am - Opening Session:

Welcome by Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway

Chair:

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Former Minister for Justice and EU Commissioner for Research & Innovation

Speakers:

• Mr Charles Flanagan, TD, Minister for Justice & Equality
• Mr Drew Harris, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána
• Dr Kathleen O’Toole, Chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (by video-conference) tbc

10.30am - Thematic Session 1 – Human Rights & Policing:

Chair:

Noeline Blackwell, Director of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland

Speakers:

• Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner, Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission (IHREC)
• Liam Herrick, Executive Director, Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)

Respondents:

• Dr Alan Cusack, School of Law, University of Limerick
• Ms Eilis Barry, CEO, Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

12pm - Thematic Session 2: National Security and Oversight

Chair:

Mr Tim Dalton, Former Secretary-General of the Department of Justice & Equality and member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland

Speakers:

• Lord David Anderson of Ipswich, KBE, QC, former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation for the United Kingdom
• Professor Maura Conway, School of Law & Government, DCU

*************** LUNCH ***************

2.30pm - Thematic Session 3: Policing with Communities

Chair:

Professor Mary Rogan, School of Law, TCD

Speakers:

• Dr Johnny Connolly, University of Limerick and member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland
• Ms Marie Metcalfe, Community Activist, North Inner City Dublin
• Dr Mick Feehan, Former Assistant Commissioner of An Garda Síochána

Respondents:

• Dr Sindy Joyce, Human Rights Defender & Member of Council of State
• Dr John Topping, Lecturer in Criminology, QUB

4pm - Closing session – audience and panel discussion

Chair:

Professor Donncha O’Connell, School of Law, NUI Galway and member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland

Panelists:

• Professor Siobhán Mullally, Established Professor of Human Rights Law & Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway
• Ms Sinéad Ryan, Secretary to Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland
• Ms Alyson Kilpatrick, Barrister and former adviser to the NI Policing Board and to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation for the UK
• Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Deputy Secretary, Department of Justice & Equality
• Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Head of Business & Law, UCC and Chairperson of Board of Management of Oberstown Children Detention Campus

Click here to register.