Dr Fergus Ryan

    Law, Motherhood Project, Sexualities and Gender, ALL Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Gaeilge agus fáilte

    Associate Professor
    Head of School/ Associate Dean of Social Sciences

    New House
    301
    (01) 474 7258

    Biography

    Fergus Ryan is Head of School and an associate professor (senior lecturer) in law at the School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University. He is a graduate and former scholar of Trinity College, University of Dublin, from which he holds an LLB (Hons) and a PhD.

    Fergus has over 25 years' experience teaching and researching law, with a particular focus on family law, constitutional law, gender, sexual orientation, and human rights. From 1998 to 2013, Fergus taught at the Dublin Institute of Technology, at which he served as Head of the Department of Law from 2003 to 2009 and again in 2013. Fergus has also been a visiting lecturer at the School of Law, Trinity College, Dublin (2002-5), teaching Family Law, at UCD, and at the Law Society of Ireland. From 2002 to 2018, he served as internship director for the University of Tulsa College of Law Summer Abroad programme in Dublin, placing over 300 US law students as interns during that period. He has served as a visiting scholar in Child and Family Law at the Children and Family Law Center at Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas and as a visiting lecturer at Vilnius University in Lithuania.

    Fergus' publications include (with Dug Cubie) Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Law in Ireland: Cases, and Materials (Round Hall 2004); (with Judy Walsh), The Rights of De Facto Couples, (IHRC 2006); Contract Law (Round Hall 2006); Constitutional Law (3rd edn, Round Hall 2018); Civil Partnership: Your Rights Explained (GLEN, 2009); and The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (Round Hall 2011). 

    Fergus has advised the Equality Authority, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Law Reform Advisory Committee of Northern Ireland on issues of family law and human rights. He has assisted in drafting legislation and legislative amendments for several members of Seanad Éireann, including the Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2015. He has also written and spoken widely on family law issues, in particular civil partnership and cohabitation, and appears regularly on national and local TV and radio speaking about a variety of legal issues.

    Fergus is a former President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers, a position in which he served from 2003-4 and again from 2013-14. He is the Irish representative on ECSOL (the European Commission on Sexual Orientation Law) and was, formerly, chair of One Family.

    Research Interests

    In recent years, my research has focussed on the legal aspects of civil partnership, cohabitation and the legal recognition of non-traditional families with children. I also have a strong research interest in sexual orientation law, in how the law regulates sexuality, and transgender recognition. I have a general research interest in family law and child law, (especially marriage law), and have written and researched in the areas of constitutional law, immigration law and contract law.

    Research Projects

    Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
    Review of the Operation of the Provisions of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 in the Context of a Child born Outside of Marriage or Civil Partnership Joint Principal Investigator 02/01/2022 30/09/2022 5000
    Scoping Project and Draft Legislation on Free Universal Access to Contraception Consultant 01/04/2021 02/01/2022 8000
    GOI Scholarship for Rebecca Murphy: Different Doors, Different Responses: Child Protection Mediation PI Fergus Ryan is supervisor 01/10/2017 30/09/2019 47921.5

    Book

    Year Publication
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) Constitutional Law (Nutshell) 3rd ed. Dublin: Thomson Reuters.
    2011 Fergus Ryan (2011) Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (An Annotation). Dublin: Round Hall.
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) Constitutional Law (Nutshell) 2nd ed. Dublin: Round Hall.
    2006 Fergus Ryan (2006) Contract Law (Nutshell). Dublin: Round Hall.
    2004 Dug Cubie and Fergus Ryan (2004) Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Law in Ireland; Cases and Materials. : Round Hall.
    2002 Fergus Ryan (2002) Constitutional Law (Nutshell) 1st ed. Dublin: Round Hall.
    2001 Fergus Ryan (2001) Constitutional Law (Essential Law Texts). Dublin: Round Hall.

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2024 Fergus Ryan (2024) 'LGBTI Populations and the Right to Health in Andreas Ziegler (ed), The Oxford Handbook of International LGBTI Law (forthcoming OUP 2024) In' In: Oxford Handbook of International LGBTI Law. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
    2023 Fergus Ryan and Deirdre McGowan (2023) ''What is the family in Irish Law?' in 'Family Law in Context'' In: Family Law in Context. Ireland : Clarus Press.
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Is Marriage a Cure for All Ills? Vulnerability and LGBT Communities in the Wake of the Marriage Referendum' In: Gallen and Ní Mhuirthile (eds), Law, Responsibility and Vulnerability: State Accountability and Responsiveness - Gender in Law, Culture, and Society. UK : Taylor and Francis.
    2019 Ryan, F (2019) 'Mapping a Transformed Landscape: Sexual Orientation and the Law in Ireland' In: LAW AND GENDER IN MODERN IRELAND: CRITIQUE AND REFORM. OXFORD : HART PUBLISHING LTD.
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2017. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2017 Ryan, F (2017) 'Commentary on McKinley v Minister for Defence' In: NORTHERN/IRISH FEMINIST JUDGMENTS: JUDGES' TROUBLES AND THE GENDERED POLITICS OF IDENTITY. PORTLAND : HART PUBL.
    2017 Fergus Ryan (Judgment by Professor Joanne Conaghan) (2017) '“McKinley v Minister for Defence: Commentary” (Judgment by Professor Joanne Conaghan)' In: Máiréad Enright, Julie McCandless and Aoife O’Donoghue, Northern/Irish Feminist Judgments: Judges’ Troubles and the Gender Politics of Identity. UK : (Hart Publishing 2017).
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2016. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2015. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2014. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2014 Dr Fergus Ryan (2014) '’We’ll Have What They’re Having’: Sexual Minorities and the Law in the Republic of Ireland' In: Sexuality and Irish Society: A Reader. Dublin : Orpen Press.
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2013. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2013 Fergus Ryan (2013) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2012. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2012 Dr Fergus Ryan (2012) 'Are Two Irish Mammies (even) Better than One? Heteronormativity, Homosexuality and the 1937 Constitution' In: Eoin Carolan(Eds.). The Constitution of Ireland: Perspectives and Prospects. : Bloomsbury Professional.
    2012 Fergus Ryan (2012) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2011. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2011 Fergus Ryan (2011) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2010. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2011 Dr Fergus Ryan (2011) 'Witnesses to Transformation: Three Decades of Family Law Scholarship in Ireland' In: Jennifer Schweppe and Thomas Mohr(Eds.). 30 Years of Legal Scholarship. : Round Hall.
    2010 Fergus Ryan (2010) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2009. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2009 Fergus Ryan (2009) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2008. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2007. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2008 Dr Fergus Ryan (2008) '21st Century Families: 19th Century Values; Modern Family Law in the Shadow of the Constitution' In: Eoin Carolan and Oran Doyle(Eds.). The Irish Constitution: Governance and Values.
    2007 Fergus Ryan (2007) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2006. Dublin : Thomson Reuters.
    2005 Dr Fergus Ryan (2005) 'Sexual Orientation Discrimination' In: Anne-Marie Cotter(Eds.). Discrimination Law. : Law Society of Ireland.
    2000 Fergus Ryan (2000) 'Chapters on Marriage and Children and annual updates' In: Family Law Practitioner (G. Shannon (ed.). Dublin : Thomson Reuters.

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2023 D. Ferri; F. Ryan (2023) 'Revisiting the Debate on Irish “Semi-Presidentialism”: Tradition or Evolution?'. DPCE Online, 57 (1). [Link] [Full-Text]
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Book Review of Lydia Bracken, Same-Sex Parenting and the Best Interests Principle. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020'. Irish Jurist, 65 (65):196-198.
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Book Review: G. Shannon, Child and Family Law'. Irish Journal of Family Law, .
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Decriminalisation Revisited: PP v The Judges of Dublin Circuit Court, the DPP, Ireland and the Attorney General [2019] IESC 26'. Irish Supreme Court Review, . [Full-Text]
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) 'Unfinished Business? Equality and Family Diversity in the Wake of the Irish Marriage Referendum'. Irish Journal of Family Law, (2018) 21(3) Irish Journal of Family Law (3):59-69.
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) 'Book Review: Niamh Howlin and Kevin Costello (eds) Law and the Family in Ireland 1800-1950, Palgrave, London, 2017'. Irish Jurist, 58 :204-208.
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) 'The Rise and Fall of Civil Partnership'. Irish Journal of Family Law, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) 'Book Review: Daniele Gallo, Luca Paladini and Pietro Pustorino (eds.) Same-Sex Couples before National, Supranational and International Jurisdictions (Springer-Verlag, 2014) in International Journal of Constitutional Law (ICON) (Oxford University Press 2016)'. International Journal of Constitutional Law, . [Full-Text]
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) 'Ireland’s Marriage Referendum: A Constitutional Perspective DPCE Online (Diritto Pubblico Comparato Ed Europeo) 2015-2 http://www.dpce.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20152-Ryan.pdf'. DIRITTO PUBBLICO COMPARATO ED EUROPEO, DPCE Online (Diritto Pubblico Comparato Ed Europeo) 2015-2 . [Link] [Full-Text]
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) '“Playing Away from Home on an Uneven Pitch?” Spouses, Civil Partners and Adultery in Irish and UK Law'. Irish Journal of Family Law, (2014) 17(2) Irish Journal of Family Law 41-51 .
    2012 Dr Fergus Ryan (2012) 'Out of the Shadow of the Constitution: Civil Partnership, Cohabitation and the Constitutional Family'. Irish Jurist, 48 :201-248. [Full-Text]
    2008 Dr Fergus Ryan (2008) 'The General Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill 2008: Brave New Dawn or Missed Opportunity?'. Irish Journal of Family Law, 11 .
    2006 Dr Fergus Ryan (2006) 'Recognizing Family Diversity: Children, One Parent Families and the Law'. Irish Journal of Family Law, 9 .
    2006 Dr Fergus Ryan (2006) 'Sexual Orientation and the Management of a Diverse Workplace: Law and Best Practice'. To be added, 5 . [Full-Text]
    2005 Fergus Ryan (2005) 'Casenote: Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza in (2005) 27:3 Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 355-368'. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, .
    2004 Dr Fergus Ryan (2004) 'Marriage at the Boundaries of Gender: The ‘Transsexual Dilemma’ Resolved?'. Irish Journal of Family Law, [2004] 1 Irish Journal of Family Law 15 .
    2001 Dr Fergus Ryan (2001) 'Law at the Margins: The Displacement of Law as a Framework of Governance (2001) 19 (no. 3) Dickinson Journal of International Law (Penn State Uni.) 407'. (2001) 19 (no. 3) Dickinson Journal of International Law (Penn State Uni.) 407 . [Full-Text]
    2000 Dr Fergus Ryan (2000) 'Sexuality, Ideology and the Legal Construction of ‘Family’; Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association'. Irish Journal of Family Law, [2000] 3 Irish Journal of Family Law 2 .
    1997 Fergus Ryan (1997) '“‘Queering’ the Criminal Law: Some thoughts on the Aftermath of the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality”'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 1997) 7 Irish Criminal Law Journal 38-47 .

    Other Journal

    Year Publication
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Book Review: G. Shannon, Child and Family Law' Law Society Gazette, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) 'A note on the impact of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 on Contract Law (2016) 34(16) Irish Law Times 231' Irish Law Times, .

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2007 Kevin Lalor, Fergus Ryan, Mairead Seymour and Claire Hamilton (2007) Young People and Crime: Research Policy and Practice Young People and Crime: Research Policy and Practice

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2022 Fergus Ryan (2022) Annual Conference of the Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Belfast, Northern Ireland, .
    2020 Fergus Ryan (2020) ‘In the ‘Slow Lane’? An Irish perspective on EU family and Succession Law’ Conference on Effective Implementation of the EU Regulations 2016/1103 and 2016/1105: Challenges and Opportunities for Cross Border Couples in Family and Succession Law Online/Universidad de Almería, Spain, .
    2020 Fergus Ryan (2020) ‘Violence, Abuse, and Coercive Control in Intimate Same-sex Relationships: Legal and Policy Responses’ Gender-Based Violence Perspectives from Brazil and Ireland University of Limerick, 5-7 February 2020, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) ‘Article 41.2 and the Homosexual Household’ Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Limerick, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) Violence, Abuse, and Coercive Control in Intimate Same-sex Relationships; Legal and Policy Responses’ Annual conference of the ACJRD – ‘Behind Closed Doors: Crimes of Violence, Coercive Control and Abuse in Family and Intimate Relationships’ Dublin, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) ‘Decriminalisation Revisited: PP v Judge of the Dublin Circuit Court’ for the Irish Supreme Court Review Irish Supreme Court Review Conference Trinity College, Dublin, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) The Gendered Landscape of the Irish Constitution: What to do with Article 41.2?’ DCU Conference on ‘Reflecting on the 1937 Constitution: Women, Family and the Home in Ireland’ DCU, Dublin, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) ‘Let them (not) eat cake: Sexual Orientation, Religion and Compelled Speech’ Maynooth-Modena Symposium, Maynooth University Department of Law Maynooth, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) ‘Freed from the British Yoke’: The colonial origins of Anti-LGBT Laws’ (On Indian Supreme Court decisions on homosexual acts and transgender rights) Here Versus There: Beyond Comparison in Queer and Sexuality politics, Maynooth University Maynooth University, .
    2019 Fergus Ryan (2019) Disrupting the Binary: Is there space for non-binary gender identities in Irish law?’ SexGen Symposium (Maynooth University) Maynooth University, .
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) “Unfinished Business? Interrogating the Heteronormative Underpinnings of Marriage” Conference on Same-sex Marriage, Northumbria University Newcastle, England, .
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) “Legal Protection and Challenges for LGBTI Students and Parents in Ireland” Annual Conference of Institute of Guidance Counsellors DCU, Dublin, .
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) Disrupting the Binary: Is there space for non-binary gender identities in Irish law? Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Athlone, Ireland, .
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Beyond Marriage: Equality, Family Diversity and Non-marital Families in Contemporary Ireland Contemporary Issues in Family Formation, Conference University of Limerick, .
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Retreat from the Bedroom? The Legal Relevance of Sex in Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership International Society of Family Law Conference Amsterdam, Netherlands, .
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) UF v JC Revisited: Sexual Orientation and the Nullity of Marriage after the Marriage Referendum Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Dunboyne, Co. Meath, .
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Unfinished Business? Equality and Family Diversity in the Wake of the Irish Marriage Referendum World Congress of Family Law and Children's Rights Dublin, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) Constitutions, Referendums and the Family Constitutional Conversations Seminar Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) Is marriage a cure for all ills? Vulnerability and LGBT Communities in the Wake of the Marriage Referendum State Accountability for Vulnerability Conference DCU, Dublin, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) Discussant/Panel Member Opening Conversations: Achieving Equality for LGBT people in Schools Opening Conversations Conference: Achieving Equality for LGBT people in Schools Maynooth University, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) The Marriage Referendum: A Legal Perspective Campaigning for Change Conference Killiney, Co. Dublin, .
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) Placement on International Study Abroad Programmes; A reflection Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Waterford, .
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) “A Lot Done, a Lot More to Do: Trans People and the Law” HHRG Seminar, A Lot Done, A Lot More To Do: Trans People and the Law University of Limerick, .
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) “Marriage Equality and Family Diversity: Unfinished Business?” (Family Diversity in the wake of the Marriage Referendum) Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2015 Galway, .
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) “Sexual orientation and transgender discrimination in the workplace: Unfinished Business?” University of Limerick Labour Law Conference University of Limerick, .
    2015 Fergus Ryan (2015) “The Marriage Act 2015: Implications for Practice” Law Society of Ireland Annual Conference on Child and Family Law, November 27, 2015 Dublin, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Recognition of Rainbow Families: An RoI Perspective on Cross-Border Recognition” Rights on the Move Conference, Belfast, June 5, 2014 Belfast, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “New Frontiers in Adoption Law; Adoption by Civil Partners and Same-Sex Couples” Adoption Conference, UCC, September 4, 2014 Cork, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: An Overview” Irish Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference Kilkenny, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Domestic Violence and LGBT Couples: The Law” Conference on Domestic Abuse in LGBT Relationships, Dundalk, May 30, 2014 Dundalk, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) Discussant, “Free Movement and Rainbow Families” Rights on the Move Conference, University of Trento, Italy, October 24, 2014 University of Trento, Italy, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Recognition of Rainbow Families in the Republic of Ireland: Recent and Future Developments” LGBT Legal Symposium, Belfast, June 4, 2014 Belfast, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Marriage, Gender Recognition and the Transgender Spouse: Challenging the Single Status Requirement” Conference on Marriage Equality, Relationship Recognition and Non-Discrimination: Security Equality and Rights? UCC, March 28, 2014 Cork, .
    2014 Fergus Ryan (2014) “Bullying, Diversity and LGBT Youth in Education” Ashville Media: Education and the Law Seminar, Croke Park, October 22, 2014 Dublin, .
    2013 Fergus Ryan (2013) “Civil Partners, Parenting and the Law: Is Joint Adoption the Solution?” University College Cork, School of Law, Conference on the Future of Adoption Law and Practice, January 2013 Cork, .
    2012 Fergus Ryan (2012) “The rights of children in same sex families” Dear Minister: Proposals for Child Law Reform, Symposium, Child Law Clinic, UCC School of Law, March 2012 Corl, .
    2007 Fergus Ryan (2007) “21st Century Families, 19th Century Values: Modern Family Law in the Shadow of the Constitution” 'The Constitution at 70’, Trinity College, Dublin, June 2007 Dublin, .
    2012 Fergus Ryan (2012) “Class and Cohabitation: The Financial Pitfalls of Legal Recognition for Non-marital Couples” Social Exclusion and the Law, Conference, Griffith College, Dublin, September 2012 Dublin, .
    2011 Fergus Ryan (2011) “No Sex Please, we're Civil Partners” Irish Association of Law Teachers, Annual Conference, Athlone, November 2011 Athlone, Ireland, .
    2009 Fergus Ryan (2009) Columbia College Chicago/Dublin Institute of Technology Virtual Symposium, April 2009, paper available at http://fearghusoriain.blogspot.com/ “Que(e)rying’ the ‘Pink Euro’: Mapping Legal Barriers to Wealth Formation and Transmission in Emerging LGBT Families” Online, .
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) “Child Protection and the Criminal Law: Legislative Strategies in the Republic of Ireland” National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers Conference, Armagh City, Safeguarding Children from Sexua National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers Conference, Armagh City Armagh City, .
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) “Children’s Rights in the Context of LGBT Parenting” L.Inc. conference – Marriage and Lesbian and Gay Families, Port Authority, Cork, March 2008 Cork, .
    2007 Fergus Ryan (2007) With Conroy, P., “Trafficking in Persons: A Human Rights Perspective” European Slave Trade: Character, Causes & Challenges, Trinity College, Dublin, July 3-5, 2007 Dublin, .
    2007 Fergus Ryan (2007) “Divorce and Children: 10 Years On” One Family Conference, Divorce and Children, Law Society of Ireland, Dublin, March 2007 Dublin, .
    2006 Fergus Ryan (2006) “From Stonewall(s) to Picket Fences: The Mainstreaming of Same-Sex Couples in Contemporary Legal Discourses” Association for Legal and Social Philosophy, Annual Conference, Dublin, June 2006 Dublin, .
    2006 Fergus Ryan (2006) “Defamation, Discretion and the Politics of ‘Outing’” Irish Association of Law Teachers, Annual Conference, Cork, April 2006 Cork, .
    2002 Fergus Ryan (2002) “God vs. Mammon: A Comparative View of Prayer as Consideration in Irish and U.S. Law” Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 2002 Nevada, .
    2001 Fergus Ryan (2001) “From the Individual to the Familial: Sexual Minorities and Alternative ‘Family Values’ in Ireland, Europe and the North America: A Comparative Analysis”, Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual C Academy of Legal Studies in Business Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, 2001 New Mexico, .
    2001 Fergus Ryan (2001) “Law at the Margins: the Displacement of Law as a Framework of Governance” Law and Society Association Annual Conference, Budapest, July 2001 Budapest, Hungary, .

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2022 Fergus Ryan (2022) Identities on the Move: Country Report: Ireland. None, . [Link]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Laws and Families Database: Income, troubles and legal family formats in Ireland. INED, . [Link]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Laws and Families Database: Migration and legal family formats in Ireland. INED, . [Link]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Laws and Families Database: Death and legal family formats in Ireland. INED, . [Link]
    2014 Fergus Ryan for the Equality Authority (2014) Observations on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2014. Equality Authority, . [Link] [Full-Text]
    2012 Fergus Ryan - with GLEN and ICCLPlain English review by NALA (2012) Known Your Rights - The Rights and Obligations of Civil Partners and Same-sex Couples. GLEN/ICCL, . [Full-Text]
    2009 Fergus Ryan (2009) Civil Partnership: Your Questions Answered. GLEN, .
    2006 Judy Walsh, Fergus Ryan (2006) The Rights of De Facto Couples. Irish Human Rights Commission, .

    Article

    Year Publication
    1998 Fergus Ryan (1998) “‘When Divorce is Away, Nullity's at Play’: A New Ground of Annulment, its Dubious Past and its Uncertain Future”, (1998) 1 Trinity College Law Review 15. [Article]

    Book Review

    Year Publication
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) Same-Sex Parenting and the Best Interests Principle. DUBLIN: [Book Review]

    Electronic Article

    Year Publication
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) Ireland’s 8th Amendment: Repeal or Retain?. [Electronic Article] [Link]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Marriage equality?: 'There is no excuse for confining civil partnership solely to gay couples' The Journal, 27 February 2017. [Electronic Article]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) The Constitution at 80. Brainstorm: [Electronic Article] [Link]

    Electronic Publication

    Year Publication
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) Westlaw IE Annotation of the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Act 20182018. [Electronic Publication]
    2021 Fergus Ryan (2021) Westlaw IE Annotation of the Domestic Violence Act 2018. [Electronic Publication]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Westlaw IE Annotation of the Gender Recognition Act 2015. [Electronic Publication]
    2017 Fergus Ryan (2017) Westlaw IE Annotation of the Marriage Act 2015. [Electronic Publication]

    Magazine Article

    Year Publication
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) The Heads Up (On Civil Partnership Bill), GCN, August 2008. [Magazine Article]

    Newspaper Articles

    Year Publication
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) The marriage equality plebiscite is not just unnecessary, it's positively sadistic, The Guardian, November 7, 2016. Australia: [Newspaper Articles] [Link]
    2016 Fergus Ryan (2016) Don't think of same-sex marriage as radical and disruptive... it actually goes to heart of tradition and family, Belfast Telegraph, August 6, 2016. [Newspaper Articles] [Link]
    2012 Fergus Ryan (2012) Cohabiting couples must consider financial obligations, Irish Times, February 27, 2012. [Newspaper Articles]
    2011 Fergus Ryan (2011) Divorce link to transgender recognition is questionable, Irish Times, July 25, 2011. [Newspaper Articles]
    2007 Fergus Ryan (2007) “Comment: Proposed Amendment Raises More Questions than it Answers”, Sunday Business Post, February 25, 2007. [Newspaper Articles]
    2001 Fergus Ryan (2001) “Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members” The Echo, May 31, 2001. [Newspaper Articles]
    2000 Fergus Ryan (2000) Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members, The Echo, May 31, 2000. [Newspaper Articles]

    Other

    Year Publication
    2018 Fergus Ryan (2018) Submission to the Gender Recognition Act Review Group. [Other]

    Statute

    Year Publication
    2014 Senator Averil Power, Fergus Ryan (2014) Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014. [Statute] [Link]

    Seminar

    Year Publication
    2021 Dr Ciara Bradley DAPPSS MU; Dr. Róisín Ryan-Flood, University of Essex Director, Centre for Intimate and Sexual Citizenship (CISC); Professor Danielle Clarke, School of English, Drama and Film, UCD; Dr Ann Marie Hanlon; DKIT; AnneMarie Whelan Barrister and Founder of Rainbow Family Equality Network (2021) MotherNet 2021 Public Seminar: Same-Sex Mothering in Ireland (Research Findings, Partnership with Rainbow Family Equality Network). [Seminar]

    Bulletin

    Year Publication
    2008 Fergus Ryan (2008) “Securing Equality” Rights News Issue 8, Winter 2008-9, (Irish Council for Civil Liberties 2008). [Bulletin]

    Other Publication

    Year Publication
    2013 Fergus Ryan (2013) 3 short articles on transgender people and the law in Orlaith O’Sullivan (ed.), Equality and Identity: Transgender and Intersex Experience in Ireland (TENI, 2013).
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    President, Irish Association of Law Teachers President 01/12/2013 - 09/11/2014
    Treasurer, Irish Association of Law Teachers Treasurer 22/11/2014 - 25/11/2017
    President, Irish Association of Law Teachers President 01/12/2003 - 01/12/2004

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/01/2021 Teaching Hero National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
    01/01/2016 The McCarron Memorial Certificate of Recognition Maynooth Students' Union

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    Academic Programmes Committee, Maynooth University Member (Elected) 01/09/2015 - 01/10/2019
    MU Teaching and Learning Sub-committee Member 01/09/2017 -
    Chair, Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching and Learning Committee, Maynooth University Chair 23/10/2017 - 01/09/2020
    Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching and Learning Committee, Maynooth University Member 01/09/2014 - 01/09/2020

    Employment

    Employer Position From / To
    Dublin Institute of Technology Head, Department of Law, 2003-2009, 2013 01/09/2003 - 31/12/2009
    Trinity College Dublin Lecturer in Family Law, Part-time, 2002-2005 01/09/2002 -
    Dublin Institute of Technology Asst Lecturer in Law 1999-2002, Lecturer in Law 2002-2013 01/11/1999 - 01/01/2014

    Education

    Start date Institution Qualification Subject
    University of Dublin PhD
    University of Dublin LLB Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

    Languages

    Language Reading Writing Speaking
    Gaelige Functional Functional Functional
    English Fluent Fluent Fluent
    French Functional Basic Basic

    Outreach Activities

    Organisation Type Description
    One Family (formerly Cherish Civic Society One Family (formerly Cherish), Former Board Member and Director, Former Chairperson
    Gay and Lesbian Equality Network Civic Society Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, Former Board Member and Company Director

    Teaching Interests

    At Maynooth University, I currently teach Family Law. I  previously taught Child Law, Gender, Sexuality and Law, Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Tax Law, Company Law, and Business Law at Maynooth. I have also previously led the Applied Legal Research module and currently contribute to the PhD Research Methodologies module led by my colleague Prof. Delia Ferri.

    Between 2016 and 2022, I taught a module on the Law of Persons on the joint UCLy-MU BCL Études Juridiques.

    I continue to contribute to MU electives on Engaging Civil Society, and Gender and Sexuality in Society and Culture.

    At TU Dublin, I taught Constitutional Law, European Union Law, Contract Law, Administrative Law, Media Law, Core Legal Skills, Law for Social Care, and Jurisprudence. I have also taught Family Law at TCD School of Law and have contributed to modules in Family Law and Child Law at the Law Society and a module on Equality at UCD.

    I have previously taught Family Law at Trinity College Dublin (School of Law, 2002-2005).

    Current Students

    Student Name Degree Supervision
    MARIA AVGERI RESEARCH PH.D. (10)

    Recent Students

    Graduation date Name Degree
    2021 Rebecca Murphy PhD
    2013 Fidel Taguinod PhD
    2012 Sally Daly PhD
    2008 Carol Coulter MPhil
    2023 Mariza Avgeri PhD