On June 20th in TSI039, on the North Campus of Maynooth University, the All-Island Social Security Network (AISSN) hosted a one day conference on social security/welfare on the island of Ireland. The event was free of charge, thanks to an Opportunity Grant from the Social Policy Association. We would also like to thank The Trussell Trust NI, the School of Law & Criminology at Maynooth University and the School of Law at Ulster University for their support.
Alongside the timetable below, are some of the contributions made.
9.30 – 10.00 – Welcome
with tea and coffee in TSI Building, Maynooth University
10.00 – 11.00 – Keynote Address
Prof. Ruth Patrick (University of York), ‘Designing dignity and adequacy into social security systems: learning from diverse places and forms of expertise’
11.00 – 12.00 – Social Security Rights (Panel 1)
11.00-11.15 – Christopher Bowes BL (FLAC), ‘A Human Rights and Equality Analysis of Social Welfare Decision-Making in Ireland’
11.15-11.30 – Samantha Gallagher (Community Advice NI), ‘Experiences of Universal Credit Recipients and their Rights’
11.30-11.45 – 11.45-12.00 – Q&A
12.00 – 12.30 – Coffee Break
12.30 – 13.15 – Poverty (Panel 2)
12.30-12.45 – Dr. Tom Boland (University College Cork) & Dr. Ray Griffin (SETU), ‘Reopening Scarring: Interrogating the ‘Scar Effect’ Within Activation Discourse’
12.45-13.00 – Kerry Cuskelly (HSE) & Dr. Niamh Flanagan (Maynooth University), ‘Policy and Practice in Teaching Social Work’
13.00-13.15 – Q&A
13.00 – 14.00 – Lunch Break
14.00 – 15.00 – Disability (Panel 3)
14.00-14.15 – Dr. Ciara Fitzpatrick (Ulster University) & Dr. Charles O’Sullivan (Maynooth University), ‘Assessing the Disability Green Paper’
14.15-14.30 – Elaine Cohalan & Aoife Crawford (NALA), ‘Learn with NALA Case Study’
14.30-14.45 – Alana Ryan & Dr. Patrick Collins (POBAL), ‘Area Level Deprivation and Self-Reported Health and Disability’
14.45-15.00 – Q&A
15.00 – 15.15 – Coffee Break
15.15 – 15.45 – Work (Panel 4)
15.15-15.30 – Nicola Horgan (National College of Ireland), ‘NCI/DSP Collaborative Provision’
15.30-15.45 – Q&A
15.45 – Final Reflections on Lived-Experiences
Facilitated by Jonny Currie (Trussell Trust NI)
Some additional contributions include:
Mairead O’Connor (The Wheel), ‘Exploratory Study of Literacy Needs in the Community and Voluntary Sector’
The AISSN is a group of researchers, policy experts, practitioners, and representative groups from the North and South of Ireland and from other UK Nations.
Formed in 2023, the network aims to examine, understand, map-out, explore, disseminate and promote knowledge and understanding about the social security system in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. AISSN seeks to create a safe space for discussion, debate and exploration of a social security system on both parts of the island that can meet the challenges of the future, while ensuring every individual can live a life centred on dignity and respect.
All-Island Social Security Network 