Centre for Law and Environment and the Southern Law Association host 'Housing, Derelection and Property Rights' Seminar

30 May 2025

The Centre for Law & the Environment was delighted to collaborate again with the Southern Law Association (SLA) in organising a seminar on the theme Housing, Dereliction and Property Rights on 28 May 2025.   

The seminar explored a range of issues around housing, obligations referable to property ownership and issues impacting urban regeneration.  

Ms Justice Marie Baker, adjunct Professor at the School of Law and Tom Flynn SC, Member of the Inner Bar & Chair of the Planning, Environmental and Local Government Bar Association (PELGBA) were the keynote speakers.  Both delivered outstanding contributions.  Ms Justice Baker presented a series of carefully considered, thought-provoking and very timely Reflections on the Nature of Property Rights and Neighbourhoods.   Tom Flynn SC explored the Legal Framework Governing Dereliction, providing detailed analysis of the relevant legislation and highlighting significant issues in practice.   

The keynote presentations were followed by short contributions from: Orla Deasy, County Solicitor, who spoke on the theme Tackling Dereliction in County Cork; Finola McCarthy, Partner, RDJ LLP; and Professor Áine Ryall, UCC. 

A lively and very informative Panel Discussion and Q&A session followed the formal presentations.  

A reception hosted by SLA to welcome the visiting delegation from the University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law rounded off the evening marvellously. 

The visiting delegation was in Cork for the annual ABA-accredited comparative law summer program held at the School of Law under a longstanding cooperative agreement between the Alexander Blewett III School of Law and UCC.   

The Summer School this year comprised three visiting University of Montana Professors, 17 US law students, 9 UCC students and three visiting practicing lawyers.  The delegation was joined by Judge Donald Molloy of the 9th US Federal District.

A special word of thanks is due to SLA Council member, Juli Rea, Partner, JRAP O’Meara LLP, who led the organisation of the seminar and the reception with her usual energy and efficiency. 

This seminar, and our previous seminar on planning law held in September 2024, was an initiative of the UCC School of Law Liaison Committee in collaboration with the SLA, led by Juli Rea and Áine Ryall.  Further seminars are planned for the autumn.

The School of Law and the Centre for Law & the Environment acknowledges the very generous support of the Southern Law Association and looks forward to further collaboration.