This event, titled ‘Defending Democracy: Legal Responses to Emerging Threats’, will take place in Dublin on 26 and 27 June. It is the first initiative of the Centre for Justice and Law Reform*, a new research centre established by the Law Society to produce in-depth research in the areas of access to justice, fundamental rights and democratic norms.  

The two-day Summer School will feature interviews, panel discussions and keynote speeches on Protecting Democracy in the Digital Age, Countering the Rise of Extremism and Public Protests in Democratic Societies.  

High-profile speakers at the event include:  

• John Brennan (former Director of the CIA and former Deputy National Security Advisor);  

• Robin Simcox (UK Commissioner for Countering Extremism); 

• Michael McGrath (EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection); 

• Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Health; 

• Rossa Fanning SC (Attorney General of Ireland); 

• Justice Marie Baker (Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (An Coimisiún Toghcháin) and former Judge of the Supreme Court); 

• Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, international human rights lawyer; 

• Nóirín O’Sullivan (former Garda Commissioner). 

Eamon Harrington, President of the Law Society, said: “The Summer School gives us an opportunity to bring together leading voices from Ireland and across the world. People in Ireland are fortunate to live in a functioning and stable democracy, but events around the world have shown us that we cannot take democracy for granted. In other parts of the world, some not so far from us, democracy is under attack and is at risk. That’s why we’re putting a spotlight on democracy during our two-day event.” 

A detailed programme for the two-day event is attached and also available at the following link: https://www.lawsociety.ie/news/law-society-centre-for-justice-and-law-reform/summer-school/