Jurys Cork Hotel, Cork, 28th November 2007
10.15-11.00 Welcome – Dr. Siobhan Mullally, Chairperson, Irish Refugee Council; Co-Director, Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University College Cork
Keynote Speech: Mr Thomas Hammarberg
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
11.00-11.15 Coffee and Tea Break
11.15-13.00 Expert Panel: International Standards and Experience
4 expert presentations followed by discussion
Chair: Dr. Ursula Kilkelly, Senior Lecturer, UCC
Panel: Céline Dermine, Legal Expert, Belgium
Nadine Finch, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers, United Kingdom
Laura Brownless, Policy Officer – Protection, England Programme, Save the Children UK
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.15 Expert Panel: Examining Current Irish Practice
3 expert presentations followed by discussion
Chair: Jyothi Kanics, Separated Children’s Officer, Irish Refugee Council
Panel: Freda McKittrick, Head of Service, Beacon Guardian ad Litem Service, Barnardos
Anke Boehm, Managing Solicitor, Refugee Legal Service
David Costello, Refugee Applications Commissioner
15.15-15.45 Coffee and Tea Break
15.45-17.00 Expert Panel: Recommendations for Improving Irish Practice
3 expert presentations followed by discussion
Chair: Sophie Magennis
Head of Policy and Research, Office of the Ombudsman for Children
Panel: Dilly O’Brien, Office of the Minister for Children
Manuel Jordão, UNHCR Representative in Ireland
Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur for Child Protection
17.00-17.15 Concluding remarks, Robin Hanan, CEO, Irish Refugee Council