Dr Fergus Ryan

    Law, Motherhood Project, Sexualities and Gender

    Gaeilge agus fáilte

    Associate Professor
    Acting Head of School

    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. In 2011, he was a visiting scholar in Child and Family Law at the Children and Family Law Center at Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas.

    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

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    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 Department of Justice / Government State Bodies 02-JAN-22 30-SEP-22 5000
    Scoping Project and Draft Legislation on Free Universal Access to Contraception Consultant / Non Commercial 01-APR-21 02-JAN-22 8000
    GOI Scholarship for Rebecca Murphy: Different Doors, Different Responses: Child Protection Mediation PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Fergus Ryan is supervisor 01-OCT-17 30-SEP-19 47921.5

    Books

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

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2021 'Is Marriage a Cure for All Ills? Vulnerability and LGBT Communities in the Wake of the Marriage Referendum'
    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. [Details]
    2020 'Repackaged Goods? Interrogating the Heteronormative Underpinnings of Marriage'
    Fergus Ryan (2020) 'Repackaged Goods? Interrogating the Heteronormative Underpinnings of Marriage' In: Frances Hamilton and Guido Noto La Diega (eds). Same-Sex Relationships, Law and Social Change. UK: Routledge. [Details]
    2019 'Mapping a Transformed Landscape: Sexual Orientation and the Law in Ireland'
    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. [Details]
    2018 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2018) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2017. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2017 'Commentary on McKinley v Minister for Defence'
    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. [Details]
    2017 '“McKinley v Minister for Defence: Commentary” (Judgment by Professor Joanne Conaghan)'
    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). [Details]
    2017 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2017) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2016. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2016 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2016) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2015. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2015 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2015) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2014. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2014 '’We’ll Have What They’re Having’: Sexual Minorities and the Law in the Republic of Ireland'
    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. [Details]
    2014 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2014) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2013. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2013 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2013) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2012. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2012 'Are Two Irish Mammies (even) Better than One? Heteronormativity, Homosexuality and the 1937 Constitution'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2012) 'Are Two Irish Mammies (even) Better than One? Heteronormativity, Homosexuality and the 1937 Constitution' In: The Constitution of Ireland: Perspectives and Prospects. Bloomsbury Professional. [Details]
    2012 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2012) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2011. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2011 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2011) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2010. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2011 'Witnesses to Transformation: Three Decades of Family Law Scholarship in Ireland'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2011) 'Witnesses to Transformation: Three Decades of Family Law Scholarship in Ireland' In: 30 Years of Legal Scholarship. Round Hall. [Details]
    2010 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2010) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2009. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2009 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2009) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2008. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2008 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2008) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2007. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2008 '21st Century Families: 19th Century Values; Modern Family Law in the Shadow of the Constitution'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2008) '21st Century Families: 19th Century Values; Modern Family Law in the Shadow of the Constitution' In: The Irish Constitution: Governance and Values. [Details]
    2007 'Contract Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2007) 'Contract Law' In: Annual Review of Irish Law 2006. Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]
    2005 'Sexual Orientation Discrimination'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2005) 'Sexual Orientation Discrimination' In: Discrimination Law. Law Society of Ireland. [Details]
    2000 'Chapters on Marriage and Children and annual updates'
    Fergus Ryan (2000) 'Chapters on Marriage and Children and annual updates' In: Family Law Practitioner (G. Shannon (ed.). Dublin: Thomson Reuters. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2021 'Book Review of Lydia Bracken, Same-Sex Parenting and the Best Interests Principle. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020'
    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 [Details]
    2021 'Book Review: G. Shannon, Child and Family Law'
    Fergus Ryan (2021) 'Book Review: G. Shannon, Child and Family Law'. Irish Journal of Family Law, [Details]
    2021 'Decriminalisation Revisited: PP v The Judges of Dublin Circuit Court, the DPP, Ireland and the Attorney General [2019] IESC 26'
    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, [Details]
    2018 'Unfinished Business? Equality and Family Diversity in the Wake of the Irish Marriage Referendum'
    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 [Details]
    2017 'Book Review: Niamh Howlin and Kevin Costello (eds) Law and the Family in Ireland 1800-1950, Palgrave, London, 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 [Details]
    2016 'The Rise and Fall of Civil Partnership'
    Fergus Ryan (2016) 'The Rise and Fall of Civil Partnership'. Irish Journal of Family Law, [Details]
    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)'
    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] [Details]
    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'
    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 [full-text] [Details]
    2014 '“Playing Away from Home on an Uneven Pitch?” Spouses, Civil Partners and Adultery in Irish and UK Law'
    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 [Details]
    2012 'Out of the Shadow of the Constitution: Civil Partnership, Cohabitation and the Constitutional Family'
    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] [Details]
    2008 'The General Scheme of the Civil Partnership Bill 2008: Brave New Dawn or Missed Opportunity?'
    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 [Details]
    2006 'Recognizing Family Diversity: Children, One Parent Families and the Law'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2006) 'Recognizing Family Diversity: Children, One Parent Families and the Law'. Irish Journal of Family Law, 9 [Details]
    2006 'Sexual Orientation and the Management of a Diverse Workplace: Law and Best Practice'
    Dr Fergus Ryan (2006) 'Sexual Orientation and the Management of a Diverse Workplace: Law and Best Practice'. To be added, 5 [full-text] [Details]
    2005 'Casenote: Ghaidan v Godin-Mendoza in (2005) 27:3 Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 355-368'
    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, [Details]
    2004 'Marriage at the Boundaries of Gender: The ‘Transsexual Dilemma’ Resolved?'
    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 [Details]
    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'
    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] [Details]
    2000 'Sexuality, Ideology and the Legal Construction of ‘Family’; Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association'
    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 [Details]
    1997 '“‘Queering’ the Criminal Law: Some thoughts on the Aftermath of the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality”'
    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 [Details]

    Other Journals

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

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2007 Young People and Crime: Research Policy and Practice
    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 [Details]

    Conference Contributions

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

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2014 Observations on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2014.
    Fergus Ryan for the Equality Authority (2014) Observations on the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2014. Equality Authority, Dublin. [full-text] [Details]
    2012 Known Your Rights - The Rights and Obligations of Civil Partners and Same-sex Couples.
    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, Dublin. [full-text] [Details]
    2009 Civil Partnership: Your Questions Answered.
    Fergus Ryan (2009) Civil Partnership: Your Questions Answered. GLEN, Dublin. [Details]
    2006 The Rights of De Facto Couples.
    Judy Walsh, Fergus Ryan (2006) The Rights of De Facto Couples. Irish Human Rights Commission, Dublin. [Details]

    Article

      Year Publication
    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.
    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 [Details]

    Book Review

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

    Electronic Article

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

    Electronic Publication

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

    Magazine Article

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

    Newspaper Articles

      Year Publication
    2016 The marriage equality plebiscite is not just unnecessary, it's positively sadistic, The Guardian, November 7, 2016.
    Fergus Ryan (2016) The marriage equality plebiscite is not just unnecessary, it's positively sadistic, The Guardian, November 7, 2016. Australia: Newspaper Articles [Details]
    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.
    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 [Details]
    2012 Cohabiting couples must consider financial obligations, Irish Times, February 27, 2012.
    Fergus Ryan (2012) Cohabiting couples must consider financial obligations, Irish Times, February 27, 2012. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2011 Divorce link to transgender recognition is questionable, Irish Times, July 25, 2011.
    Fergus Ryan (2011) Divorce link to transgender recognition is questionable, Irish Times, July 25, 2011. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2007 “Comment: Proposed Amendment Raises More Questions than it Answers”, Sunday Business Post, February 25, 2007.
    Fergus Ryan (2007) “Comment: Proposed Amendment Raises More Questions than it Answers”, Sunday Business Post, February 25, 2007. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2001 “Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members” The Echo, May 31, 2001.
    Fergus Ryan (2001) “Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members” The Echo, May 31, 2001. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    2000 Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members, The Echo, May 31, 2000.
    Fergus Ryan (2000) Nice Treaty will enable EU to add new members, The Echo, May 31, 2000. Newspaper Articles [Details]

    Other

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

    Statute

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

    Honours and Awards

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

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    President, Irish Association of Law Teachers President 01-DEC-13 / 09-NOV-14
    Treasurer, Irish Association of Law Teachers Treasurer 22-NOV-14 / 25-NOV-17
    President, Irish Association of Law Teachers President 01-DEC-03 / 01-DEC-04

    Committees

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

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Dublin Institute of Technology Head, Department of Law, 2003-2009, 2013 01-SEP-03 / 31-DEC-09
    Trinity College Dublin Lecturer in Family Law, Part-time, 2002-2005 01-SEP-02 /
    Dublin Institute of Technology Asst Lecturer in Law 1999-2002, Lecturer in Law 2002-2013 01-NOV-99 / 01-JAN-14

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2001 University of Dublin PhD
    1995 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

      Description

    One Family (formerly Cherish), Former Board Member and Director, Former Chairperson

    Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, Former Board Member and Company Director

    Teaching Interests

    At Maynooth University, I currently teach Family Law, Child Law, and Gender, Sexuality and Law. I  previously taught Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Tax Law, Company Law, Business Law at Maynooth.

    Since 2016, I have 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 DIT I previously taught Constitutional Law, European Union Law, Contract Law, Administrative Law, Media Law, Core Legal Skills, Law for Social Care, and Jurisprudence.

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

    Recent Postgraduates

      Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
    2021 Rebecca Murphy Maynooth University PhD
    2013 Fidel Taguinod Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IRL PhD The Surrogate Nurse: Writing 'Self' and the Transnational Economy of 'Global Pinoy'
    2012 Sally Daly Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IRL PhD Pick, Pack, Sell: Producing Horticulture in 21st Century Ireland
    2008 Carol Coulter Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IRL MPhil M.Phil. Ancillary Orders in the Circuit Family Co