Access to Justice
Access to Justice |
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Back to Contents The Refugee & Immigration Practitioners' Network held its first meeting in the Law Society’s Blue Room on Thursday, October 16th last. Saul Woolfson BL delivered a most informative and well-received talk to a full house on Preparing Applications for Subsidiary Protection in the Context of Recent Caselaw. A lively discussion followed (with apologies to all those who didn’t get to add their views and comments due to lack of time) and copies of recent European cases of interest to practitioners were distributed. The Network has been established to foster the sharing of legal knowledge between refugee and immigration practitioners in Ireland in order to promote excellence in the representation of our clients. The Network’s composition is intended to reflect the diverse range of experienced practitioners involved in the area, including solicitors, barristers, those working in NGOs and caseworkers. The format of the network meetings is also intended to recognise the expertise and experience of the audience as well as the invited speakers and to facilitate conversation on important issues of relevance. Therefore we hope that each month, following a talk by an invited speaker or speakers on a topic of particular interest to practitioners, there is an opportunity for discussion and questions. Caoimhe Sheridan and I, Coordinators of the ELENA Network in Ireland, organised the first meeting on a topic of particular interest to refugee lawyers. Hereafter, it is intended that we will alternate on a monthly basis between refugee and immigration law. Caoimhe and Hilkka Becker of the Immigrant Council of Ireland will coordinate those meetings relating to Immigration Law while Caoimhe and I will continue to arrange those meetings relating to refugee law. Although we are dividing the meetings between refugee and immigration law, we recognise that urgent matters will arise and there will be some crossover. While the monthly meetings will be a central aspect of the network, we hope to encourage communication by email also in order to keep practitioners updated on matters of legal importance which come to our attention. There is no charge for attendance at the meetings. The next meeting will take place in the Distillery Building at 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 19th next when we are pleased to confirm that Michael Lynn BL will give a talk titled Metock-and Beyond focusing on the immigration law implications of the European Court of Justice decision in Metock as well as current and possible future challenges to other aspects of Ireland's implementation of the free movement directive. On Wednesday December 10th, we will hold our third meeting, when Jonathan Tomkin, Solicitor, who has recently returned from Luxembourg where he worked as a Referendaire (Legal Advisor) at the European Court of Justice, will give practical guidelines to asylum and refugee practitioners on taking a case before the European Court of Justice. December's meeting will be followed by a panel discussion and reception. Caoimhe would be happy to receive your comments, queries and any suggestions you might have for future meetings by email to caoimhe@irishrefugeecouncil.ie Jacki Kelly, Solicitor. |
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