The Oireachtas resolution establishing the Assembly states that "an Expert Advisory Group will be established to assist the work of the Assembly in terms of preparing information and advice."
The main roles of the Expert Advisory Group included the following:
- Supporting the Chair and Secretariat in constructing a fair, balanced and comprehensive work programme for the Assembly on each of the topics;
- Providing background expert advice on the issues being discussed;
- Advising on the criteria for selecting specialists/ experts to appear before the Assembly;
- Recommending names for the specialists/ experts to appear before the Assembly, for ratification by the Steering Group;
- Working with the Chair and Secretariat to select speakers from civil society and advocacy groups.
The Expert Advisory Group was comprised of academics/practitioners across a number of specific fields of interest. The composition and focus of the Expert Advisory Group changed during the lifetime of the Assembly.
The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution
For the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution the specific fields of interest of the members included:
- Political/ Social Science;
- Constitutional Law and Theory;
- Medical Law and Ethics;
- Medicine and Obstetrics.
The members of the Expert Advisory Group on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution were Dr Elizabeth Dunn, Oran Doyle (Trinity College Dublin), John Garry (Queen's University Belfast), Prof Declan Keane, Professor Deirdre Madden (University College Cork), Tom Walker (Queen's University Belfast) and Rachael Walsh (Trinity College Dublin).
How We Best Respond to the Challenges and Opportunities of an Ageing Population
For how we best respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population the specific fields of interest of the members included:
- Political/ Social Science;
- Health Policy/ Medical Gerontology;
- Participation including Social and Economic Aspects of Ageing;
- Legal issues including elder abuse and neglect;
- Social Work/ Social Justice.
The members of the Expert Advisory Group on how we best respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population were Susan Cliffe, John Garry (Queen's University Belfast), Professor Rose Anne Kenny (Trinity College Dublin), Eamon O'Shea (NUI Galway), Dr Amanda Phelan (University College Dublin) and Patricia Rickard-Clarke.
How the State can make Ireland a Leader in Tackling Climate Change
For how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change the specific fields of interest of the members included:
- Political Science, with a particular focus on the politics of climate change;
- Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development;
- Environmental Law;
- Climate Science;
- Adaptation.
The members of the Expert Advisory Group on how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change were Professor Anna Davies (Trinity College Dublin), Dr Margaret Desmond (University College Cork), John Garry (Queens University Belfast), Dr Áine Ryall (University College Cork), Professor Peter Thorne (Maynooth University) and Dr Diarmuid Torney (Dublin City University).
The Manner in Which Referenda are Held & Fixed Term Parliaments
On the topic of the manner in which referenda are held and fixed term parliaments, the Expert Advisory Group is comprised of academics/practitioners across a number of specific fields of interest including:
- Constitutional Law;
- Political Science, including but not limited to deliberative democracy, electoral behaviour, and political institutions;
- political communication.
The members of the Expert Advisory Group on the manner in which referenda are held and fixed term parliaments were Oran Doyle (Trinity College Dublin), Robert Elgie (Dublin City University) John Garry (Queen's University Belfast), Kevin Rafter (Dublin City University), Theresa Reidy (University College Cork) and Rachael Walsh (Trinity College Dublin).
The Expert Advisory Group's Terms of Reference are available here.
