The Society regularly publishes reports on areas of public interest and focuses, in particular, on those areas that would affect the community in general and would benefit from reform of the law.
Law Reform
The Law Reform Committee has produced a range of reports on the reform of specific areas of law, but the work does not end with their publication. The Committee continues to monitor the relevant areas of law, makes submissions to Government Departments and policy makers, and assists with submissions on any new legislation.
Human Rights
The Human Rights Committee were involved in the launch of the following reports.
- Spent Convictions Scheme Report
This report was the result of research undertaken by the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society, in conjunction with Ballymun Community Law Centre, Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force, Business in the Community, Northside Community Law Centre and Northside Partnership. It was launched on 14th May, 2009 by Mr. John Lonergan, Governor of Mountjoy Prison. One of the recommendations of the report is that a spent convictions scheme should be available to all offenders, irrespective of the crime committed or the sentence imposed.
- ECHR Act 2003: Preliminary Assessment of Impact (pdf file 4.29mb)
This report, sponsored by the Law Society Human Rights Committee and the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association was launched on 23rd October 2006. Hard copies of the study are available for €12 (incl. p+p and advance payment would be appreciated). Please contact Esther McCormack on tel: (01) 762 4800 or email: e.mccormack@lawsociety.ie
2009 Human Rights Conference: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Making States Accountable
Session 1: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the International and National Legal Order
Session 2: Parallel Sessions
Employment Rights
The International Labour Organisation and Employment Rights - Corinne Vargha
Social Welfare Rights
Social Welfare rights and the European Social Charter - Colm O’Cinneide
Mechanisms for Protecting Employment Rights - Eilis Barry
Education Rights
The Right to Education: International Standards and their Application - Prof. Neville Harris
National Mechanisms for protecting the Right to Education - Dr. Conor O’Mahony
Health Rights
Enforcing Health Rights: ‘rights and reality’ - Dr. Brigit Toebes
Health Rights - Ms. Lindsey Dyer
Housing Rights
International Mechanisms for Protecting Housing Rights - Dr. Padraic Kenna
Housing Rights: The European Convention on Human Rights - Cormac Ó Dúlacháin
Session 3: Using Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Community to hold States to account.
Human Rights Annual Lectures
- 2009 Fifth Annual Human Rights Lecture, 27th July 2009
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Stephen Sedley, “The Three Wise Monkeys visit the Marketplace of Ideas: Censorship in a Free Society”.
- 2008 Fourth Annual Human Rights Lecture, 7th May 2008
The Right Honourable Chief Justice of Canada Ms. Beverley McLachlin P.C., ''Human Rights Protection in Canada''
- 2007 Third Annual Human Rights Lecture, 10 May 2007
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, ''The Protection of Human Rights in the War on Terror'' .
- 2006 Second Human Rights Lecture, 29 June 2006
Justice Michael Kirby, "The Dreyfus Case a Century On - Ten Lessons for Ireland and Australia".
- Inaugural Human Rights Lecture, 23 June 2005
Mr. Justice Albie Sachs, "The Judicial Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights".
For more information on the programmes and papers from these conferences, please contact the Society's Human Rights Committee.