An tseachtain seo bhí an-áthas orainn fáilte a chur roimh bhuaiteoirí cumasacha ár gcomórtas aistí don Idirbhliain (IB)! Bhuail na buaiteoirí leis an Uachtarán a bhronn a dteastais tuillte go maith orthu.
Eagraithe mar chuid dár gceiliúradh 50 bliain, thug an comórtas seo dúshlán do mhic léinn na hIdirbhliana a gcuid smaointeoireachta a chur orthu féin agus dlí a mholadh a chreideann siad a bhfuil athchóiriú tuillte aige amach anseo. Ba é an aidhm a bhí againn spéis a spreagadh in obair ríthábhachtach athchóirithe an dlí agus an chéad ghlúin eile taighdeoirí dlí a chothú.
Ba mhaith linn buíochas a ghabháil le gach dalta a ghlac páirt sa chomórtas agus leis na múinteoirí a spreag iad chun páirt a ghlacadh.
Ba iad na buaiteoirí:
Trí Aiste is Fearr don Idirbhliain (i mBéarla)
- :Chuir Tara Banks ó Scoil Ráth an Dúin, Baile Átha Cliath, iontas orainn lena togra chun Acht Údarás Sábháilteachta Bia na hÉireann 1998 a athchóiriú. Dhírigh moladh Tara ar a chinntiú go dtairgfeadh gach bialann rogha béile substaintiúil amháin ar a laghad saor ó ghlútan, athchóiriú a spreag taithí cara dlúth a bhfuil galar céiliach air. Leag an togra machnamhach seo béim ar thábhacht na cuimsitheachta agus ar fhreastal ar riachtanais éagsúla ár sochaí.
- Chuir Darrin Dinson ó Choláiste Choilm Thulach Mhór, Uíbh Fhailí, argóint chun cinn i bhfabhar athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar Acht Craolacháin 2009. Ba é smaoineamh nuálach Darrin ná deireadh a chur leis an táille cheadúnais teilifíse reatha agus muirear breise a chur ina áit ar cháin ioncaim. Spreag an togra seo plé suimiúil faoi mhúnlaí maoinithe malartacha don chraoltóireacht phoiblí.
- Phléigh Padraic Barry ó Scoil Phobail Ramsgrange, Loch Garman, an cheist chasta maidir le loghadh uathoibríoch agus sainmhíniú "dea-iompair" laistigh den chóras príosúin ag léiriú feasachta géar ar na castachtaí laistigh dár gcóras ceartais.
Trí Aiste is Fearr don Idirbhliain (i nGaeilge):
- Chuir Iseult McGovern ó Scoil Ráth an Dúin, Baile Átha Cliath, argóint i láthair i bhfabhar athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar Rialacháin na nUllmhóidí Leighis (Rialú Díola), 1987. Leag moladh Iseult béim ar thiomantas don tsláinte phoiblí agus ar an bhféidearthacht mí-úsáide a laghdú i leith gach táirge ina bhfuil cóidín.
- Thug Meeko Yu ó Choláiste Naomh Nathy, Ros Comáin, léirmheas machnamhach ar an gcóras Soláthair Dhírigh reatha. Mhol aiste Meeko athchóiriú suntasach, ag tacú le samhail nua spreagtha ag na cineálacha cur chuige níos comhtháite a fheictear sa tSualainn agus i gCeanada. Thug an dearcadh comparáideach seo léargas luachmhar ar réitigh mhalartacha.
- Phléigh Eva-Mai Loughman ó Ardscoil Loreto i mBeaufort, Baile Átha Cliath, ceist shóisialta shuntasach lena moladh maidir le díchoiriúlú na hoibre gnéis. Ag tarraingt ar shampla na Beilge, rinne aiste Eva-Mai iniúchadh ar an bhféidearthacht chun dálaí oibre níos sábháilte, rialáilte a chruthú chun cearta daonna oibrithe gnéis a chosaint agus foréigean agus stiogma a laghdú.
Bhí an doimhneacht taighde, smaointeoireachta criticiúla, agus feasachta sochaí a léiríodh sna hiontrálacha uile thar a bheith suntasach. Léiríonn na daoine óga seo todhchaí gheal don dioscúrsa dlí agus don dul chun cinn sóisialta in Éirinn. Comhghairdeas arís lenár mbuaiteoirí, agus buíochas le gach duine a chuir le rath an chomórtais spreagúil seo!
This week we had the pleasure of welcoming the talented winners of our Transition Year (TY) essay competition! The prize winners met with the President who presented them with their well-deserved certificates.
Organised as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, this competition challenged TY students to put on their thinking caps and propose a law they believe deserves reform in the future. Our aim was to ignite an interest in the crucial work of law reform and cultivate the next generation of legal researchers.
We would like to thank every student who took part in the competition and the teachers who encouraged their participation.
The winners were:
Top Three TY Essays (in English):
- Tara Banks from Rathdown School, Dublin, impressed us with her proposal to reform the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. Tara's suggestion focused on ensuring that all restaurants offer at least one substantial gluten-free meal option, a reform inspired by the experiences of a close friend living with coeliac disease. This thoughtful proposal highlighted the importance of inclusivity and catering to the diverse needs of our society.
- Darrin Dinson of Coláiste Choilm Tullamore, Offaly, put forward an argument for reforming the Broadcasting Act 2009. Darrin's innovative idea involved removing the current TV licence fee and replacing it with an additional charge to income tax. This proposal sparked interesting discussions about alternative funding models for public broadcasting.
- Padraic Barry from Ramsgrange Community School, Wexford, tackled the complex issue of automatic remission and the definition of "good behaviour" within the prison system demonstrating a keen awareness of the nuances within our justice system.
Top Three TY Essays (in Irish):
- Iseult McGovern from Rathdown School, Dublin, presented an argument for reforming the Medical Preparations (Control of Sale) Regulations, 1987. Iseult's recommendation to make all products containing codeine prescription-only underscored a commitment to public health and reducing the potential for misuse.
- Meeko Yu of St. Nathy's College, Roscommon, offered a thoughtful critique of the current Direct Provision system. Meeko's essay proposed a significant reform, advocating for a new model inspired by the more integrated approaches seen in Sweden and Canada. This comparative perspective offered valuable insights into alternative solutions.
- Eva-Mai Loughman from Loreto High School Beaufort, Dublin, tackled a significant social issue with her recommendation for the decriminalisation of sex work. Drawing on the example of Belgium, Eva-Mai's essay explored the potential for creating safer, regulated working conditions to protect the human rights of sex workers and reduce violence and stigma.
The depth of research, critical thinking, and societal awareness demonstrated in all the entries was truly remarkable. These young individuals represent a bright future for legal discourse and social progress in Ireland. Congratulations once again to our winners, and thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this inspiring competition!