On 17 May 2024, Professor Michael Doherty and Dr. David Mangan hosted a conference for scholars from several jurisdictions, including beyond the EU. The conference was called Does free speech end with employment status? This event was sponsored by Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology, and promoted by the International Association of Labour Law Journals (IALLJ) as well as the European Labour Law Journal (ELLJ). The venue was The National University of Ireland facilities at Merrion Square.
The conference commenced with a welcome from Professor Frank Hendrickx (KU Leuven), President of the IALLJ. Professor Paul Wragg (Leeds) delivered a keynote entitled “Free speech at work” which was drawn from a book he is writing. There were several presentations in the panels that followed. These were chaired by Professor Silvia Borelli, Dr. Marta Lasek-Markey. The day concluded with a roundtable discussion of the conference topic led by Anthony Kerr SC, with contributions from Julie Galbraith (Partner, Eversheds Sutherland), Peter Ward SC, and Professor Manfred Weiss. A selection of presentations will form part of a special issue of the European Labour Law Journal.
Michael and David wish to thank all participants for their contributions, especially those who have travelled from outside of Ireland. They also wish to thank Anthony Kerr SC, Peter Ward SC, and Julie Galbraith (all members of Irish employment law practice) for participating in the conference. Michael and David are additionally grateful to Emma Guyatt for her excellent assistance, as well as Vanessa Gallagher for making the many logistical arrangements for the conference.
