This event will take place in The Presidents' Hall, Law Society of Ireland, Dublin.

Aim and Objectives
This conference is organised by the Law Society Human Rights Committee in partnership with Family Carers Ireland, with the aim of bringing together legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, family carers, people with disabilities, members of the public, as well as academics, policy makers, human rights organisations and civil society organisations to explore issues around capacity in Ireland. An extensive panel discussion and question and answer session will take place following the plenary sessions.

The aim of this year’s conference is to critically explore the legal framework around capacity and the impact that the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has on all those it affects, including the rights and responsibilities for all parties involved. The Conference offers a vital opportunity for family carers, people with disabilities, policymakers and other interested stakeholders to come together to assess and discuss the various challenges involved in navigating this area. The objective of the Conference is to provide an incisive analysis of these issues, to engage with the rights considerations around same and to highlight the operational challenges within the new capacity legislation, particularly around the commencement of the Act.

The Annual Human Rights Conference Series
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the Law Society’s Human Rights Committee Annual Conference series. The principal aim of the conference series is to promote awareness of human rights law and practice among both lawyers and the public, and also to encourage consideration of how human rights can be promoted and protected. The Committee is optimistic that the Conference will stimulate and invigorate debate amongst key stakeholders in this area and mobilise necessary change.

Topics and Issues to be covered

• Overview and theoretical context of legal framework
• Challenges in application, implementation and interpretation of capacity legislation
• Identifying and balancing human rights implications of all stakeholders

Chairperson:

Shane McCarthy, Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee

Speakers:

Senator Colette Kelleher, Independent Senator, Seanad Éireann
John Dunne, CEO, Family Carers Ireland
Dr Éilionoir Flynn, Deputy Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway
Paul Alford, Self-Advocacy Project Worker, Inclusion Ireland
Moira Skelly, Family Carer
Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service, Mental Health Commission

• To book by post, download and complete the booking form
• Download the brochure -Annual Human Rights Conference 2018
• If you have additional queries, contact the Professional Training team on: lspt@lawsociety.ie
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