Seamus Taylor

Dr Seamus Taylor is Head of Applied Social Studies and Lecturer in Social Policy. Seamus studied Social Science (Social Policy and Sociology ) in University College Dublin where he graduated  with a double 1st class honours degree . He has an MA in Social Policy from the University of London ( Goldsmiths College ) where he graduated with distinction .He has a PhD from Lancaster University in Applied Social Science (Law) .He has worked in the ESRI , Dublin , Social Worker at the London Irish Centre , Senior Policy Advisor and Head of Policy ,Equality and Diversity at Haringey Council, Director of Strategy at the Commission for Racial Equality (Britain)  and Director of Equality and Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales ) .
Seamus joined the Department of Applied Social Studies in 2009 ,where he contributes to and teaches on the BSocSc, MSocSc, and DSocSc programmes .He founded the Masters in Social Science (Rights and Social Policy ).He lectures on undergraduate modules in Introduction to Social Policy,Equality Studies  and Criminal Justice Studies and Masters level courses in Equality and Inclusion and Criminal Justice Studies.
His research interests include : analysis of hate crime policy and practice with a current focus on Disablility Hate Crime , issues of equality and diversity in the criminal justice system , analysis of  policy approaches to addressing equality in the public sector, analysis of the social policy making process.
His publications are in the areas of equality and diversity policy making and practice , critical analysis of hate crime policy and practice , racist crime and race equality policy and practice in the criminal justice system. His book with Dr Amanda Haynes and Jennifer Schweppe (UL) ,Haynes, Schweppe and Taylor , Critical Perspectives on Hate Crime : An Irish Perspective , London : Palgrave Macmillan was published in 2017.Seamus' latest book, Hate Crime Policy and Disability: from vulnerability to ableism was published by Bristol University Press in 2022.
Seamus has involvements with a range of organisations in the NGO and statutory sectors in Ireland and Britain over many years.These include serving as a trustee of the Runnymede Trust (Britain ) think tank on race equality and cultural diversity, serving as a commissioner on the independent Commission on the future of Multi Ethnic Britain which reported in 2000 , chairing the Irish community census campaign in Britain in the early 2000's . He is independent chair of the London Hate Crime Scrutiny and Involvement Panel (CJS)  and chair of the Irish Penal Reform Trust. He is a member of the Expert Group which advises government on Equality Budgeting .He has served as a member of the Advisory Group on Equality and Diversity strategy to the Public Appointments Service.
  He is currently an elected  member of Maynooth University Governing Authority. He served as a member of the MU Curriculum Commission .He is current chair of Maynooth University Equality, Diversity and Interculturalism Committee.