Dr Seamus Taylor

    Applied Social Studies

    Head of Department

    Laraghbryan House
    3.6
    (01) 708 6748

    Biography

    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 Disablist 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 is working on a book , Disability Hate Crime: from vulnerability to ableism to be published by Policy 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.

    Research Interests

    Researching the social group and socioeconomic aspects of equality; the theory and practice of mainstreaming equality; the criminal justice system and social policy, in paricular hate crimes; the theory and practice of community engagement by public sector bodies; the public sector policy making process; new managerialism, in particular the performance management of public services; social policy and disability; social policy and ageing.

    Edited Books

      Year Publication
    2017 Critical Perspectives on Hate Crime : An Irish Perspective
    Haynes ,A., Schweppe, J, and Taylor , S (Ed.). (2017) Critical Perspectives on Hate Crime : An Irish Perspective London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2020 Conference contribution on social justice and social science research.
    Dr Seamus Taylor (2020) Conference contribution on social justice and social science research. [Invited Oral Presentation], Social Research for Social Justice, Maynooth University Social Justice Week, Maynooth University , 12-MAR-20 - 12-MAR-20 [Details]
    2020 Annual Maynooth University Housing Cinference.
    Dr Seamus Taylor (2020) Annual Maynooth University Housing Cinference. [Chaired Session], Maynooth University Housing Conference, Maynooth University , 11-JAN-20 - 11-JAN-20 [Details]
    2020 Annual National Disability Authority Conference, Dublin.
    Dr Seamus Taylor (2020) Annual National Disability Authority Conference, Dublin. [Keynote Address], National Disability Authority, Dublin , National Disability Authority , 21-OCT-20 - 21-OCT-20 [Details]
    2019 Human Rights Forum Conference focused on Hate Crime.
    Dr Seamus Taylor (2019) Human Rights Forum Conference focused on Hate Crime. [Keynote Address], Oxford University Human Rights Forum, Wadham College, Oxford University , 12-DEC-19 - 12-DEC-19 [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2011 Racist Incidents and Racist Crime in Ireland.
    Taylor, S. (2011) Racist Incidents and Racist Crime in Ireland. Equality Authority , Dublin, Dublin , Ireland. [full-text] [Details]
    2010 The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 years on and the Crown Prosecution Service- Much, much more still to do.
    Taylor, S. (2010) The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 years on and the Crown Prosecution Service- Much, much more still to do. Crown Prosecution Service, UK. [Details]
    2005 Equality and Diversity Policy and Strategy.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (2005) Equality and Diversity Policy and Strategy. CPS, London, UK. [Details]
    2004 Equality and Diversity Stocktake.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (2004) Equality and Diversity Stocktake. CPS, London, UK. [Details]
    2003 Race Equality : Public Sector Strategy.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (2003) Race Equality : Public Sector Strategy. Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), London, UK. [Details]
    1999 Equality and Diversity Manual.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (1999) Equality and Diversity Manual. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1998 Domestic Violence Services Review.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (1998) Domestic Violence Services Review. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1997 Community Plan for Haringey.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (1997) Community Plan for Haringey. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1989 Equal Opportunities ,the Irish Dimension ,an agenda for change.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (1989) Equal Opportunities ,the Irish Dimension ,an agenda for change. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1988 Irish elderly in Haringey.
    Taylor, S. (1988) Irish elderly in Haringey. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1987 The Irish in Haringey,an assessment of need and programme for action.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (1987) The Irish in Haringey,an assessment of need and programme for action. Haringey Council, London, London, UK. [Details]
    1986 Smalltown boys and girls : emigrant Irish youth in London .
    Taylor, S. (1986) Smalltown boys and girls : emigrant Irish youth in London . PNL Press, London, UK. [Details]
    2009 Diversity Delivery Plan 2008-11 for the Crown Prosecution Service.
    Taylor, S. (drafting author) (2009) Diversity Delivery Plan 2008-11 for the Crown Prosecution Service. Crown Prosecution Service, UK. [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2010 CBE British Government Honours System
    2007 Fellow of Royal Society of the Arts Britain (FRSA) Royal Soceity of the Arts
    2008 British Civil Service Diversity Improvement Award Cabinet Office, British Civil Service
    1999 Distinguished Service Award Haringey Council ,London
    1996 Irish Post Newspaper Community Award The Irish Post Newspaper (Britain)
    1982 Postgraduate Scholarship in Social Science University College Dublin
    1981 College Prize in Sociology University College Dublin
    1981 College Scholarships in Sociology and Social Policy University College Dublin
    1981 College Scholarship in Social Policy University College Dublin

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Equality, Diversity and Interculturalism Committee, Maynooth University ,Governing Authority responsible with committee colleagues for strategic advice and support to Maynooth University Governing Authority in relation to the advancement of the University's equality policy and objectives 2016 / 2016
    Maynooth University Curriculum Commission Member 2012 / 2014
    Governing Authority ,Maynooth University responsible with other Governing Authority members for the strategic governance of the university in line with the Universites Act and the University's strategic plan 2016 / 2016

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) ,Dublin Research Assistant 01-AUG-83 / 01-MAR-84
    London Irish Centre Social Worker 01-APR-84 / 01-APR-87
    Commission for Racial Equality (Britain ) Director of Strategy 01-JAN-00 / 27-JAN-04
    Haringey Council Senior Policy Advisor and latterly Head of Policy ,Equality and Diversity 01-MAY-87 / 01-DEC-99
    Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales) Director of Equality and Diversity 27-JAN-04 / 31-MAR-09

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    1982 University College Dublin BSocSc Social Policy and Sociology
    2018 Lancaster University, UK PhD Applied Social Science (Law)
    1986 University of London (Goldsmiths College ) Master of Arts Social Policy

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    High Level Review Group on the role of an Garda Siochana in the Public Prosecution System

    I serve as a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Equality Budgeting which reports to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Finance. Its role is to advise on anchoring equality considerations in the national budget framework and process (2019 - to date) Link

    I serve as a member of the time-limited Advisory Board to the Public Appointments Service Ireland on the framing of a first Equality and Diversity Strategy for the Service (2019 - to date) Link

    I am Chair (2016- to date) of the Board of the Irish Penal Reform Trust which is the main NGO promoting a human rights based approach to prisoners and evidence based penal reform. Link

    I serve as a member of the Independent Advisory Group to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review established by the UK Home Secretary in August 2018 and overseen by Review Lead Wendy Williams (2018 - to date). Link

    I chaired a Whitehall-wide group on diversity in recruitment to the Senior Civil Service in the UK which produced recruitment guidance for Government departments from 2006-2008.

    I served as a Trustee of the Runnymede Trust, Britain's leading Think Tank on race quality and cultural diversity (2000-2009). Link

    I served as a Commissioner (1998-2000) on the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain, which set out a vision and strategy for the realisation of a cohesive multi-ethnic society as it entered the twenty-first century. Link

    I am Independent Chair of a panel which scrutinizes and advises the criminal justice system on the handling of cases of hate crime and makes recommendations to contribute to improved performance (2015 - to date). Link

    Teaching Interests

    I teach a range of courses in the following areas : Introduction to Social Policy ,Social Policy and the Life Stages, Equality Studies, Criminal Justice Studies, Linking Redistribution and Recognition based inequalities.I tend to favour and draw upon a blended approach to teaching involving a blend of conventional lecture and  small group problem based learning and interaction.