First “Getting Going with Health Impact Assessment” Event in Ireland

6 Nov 2025

On 6th November around 60 people attended the first “Getting Going with Health Impact Assessment” knowledge translation event across the island of Ireland.

The event was held in UCC and hosted as part of the TRANSLATE-HIA project, funded under the HRB Knowledge Translation Award 2024 scheme. TRANSLATE-HIA is sharing findings from the HIA-IM research project where a HIA implementation model is being created using action research and implementation science frameworks applied to the conduct of two HIAs. These two HIAs address the Cork City Development Plan (2022-2028) and the national Climate Action Plan 2024. These HIAs are the first of their kind in these policy areas in Ireland.

Attendees from the HSE, NGOs, local authorities, private sector, and academic settings listened to presentations from Karen O’Mahony (Cork City Council), Johnny Liu (London Borough of Tower Hamlets), Dr Margaret Douglas (Public Health Scotland), and Dr Liz Green (Public Health Wales). A discussion session followed, facilitated by Denise Cahill, Coordinator of WHO Cork Healthy Cities. Professor Ella Arensman opened the event and Dr Monica O’Mullane presented an overview of HIA in Ireland, the purpose of HIA-IM project, along with implementation science informed findings. In the afternoon a World Café, facilitated by members of the TRANSLATE-HIA team, was held. Contributions from the World Café will inform the upcoming “Getting Going with HIA” Informational Resource.

Both projects are led by Dr Monica O’Mullane (PI), with Dr Tara Kenny, postdoctoral researcher on HIA-IM, and Eibhlín Looney, Research Assistant on TRANSLATE-HIA. Steering Group members include Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan (Health Improvement team, HSE), Vinnie O’Shea (Sláintecare Healthy Communites Programme), Dr Margaret Douglas (Public Health Scotland), Bernie Connolly (The Environmental Forum), Leonora McConville (Sligo County Council), Dr Joanna Purdy (Institute of Public Health Ireland), Dr Sheena McHugh and Dr Ger Mullally (UCC).

_{Eibhlín Looney, Dr Monica O'Mullane, Dr Tara Kenny}

_{Dr Margaret Douglas, Dr Monica O'Mullane, Dr Liz Green}