Former Student of Maynooth University's Department of Law wins the Colin Donald Environmental Law Award 2019

Monday, October 14, 2019 - 10:00

Former student of the Department of Law, Gemma Hayes, has been awarded the 2019 Colin Donald Environmental Law Award. The Award, named after the former Vice-President of the National Trust for Scotland, Colin Donald, is co-sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and the University of Glasgow. Students in Scottish Universities are invited to submit essays of no more than 6,000 words in length on a topic relating to the environment.

Gemma, who was studying for an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at the University of Edinburgh at the time of the award, submitted an essay on the topic of the environment and human rights. Her essay considered the relationship between the European Convention on Human Rights and the protection of the environment. Gemma’s essay argued that an amendment or additional protocol be adopted to enshrine an explicit right to a healthy environment within the European Convention on Human Rights, in order to compensate for gaps in the existing jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights relating to the environment.

Stephen Small, the National Trust for Scotland’s Solicitor and Secretary said: “It was a difficult choice given the quality of all of the entries submitted, but Gemma’s essay shone through with its excellent structure and logical points of argument. She has a great future ahead of her.”

As winner of the award Gemma received a cash prize and a placement in the National Trust for Scotland.

Policy, Law & Governance