Law Society Student Wins Irish Times Debate

Feb 21, 2011

TCD’s Law Society student, Mark Thuillier, was named overall winner in the individual category at the annual Irish Times debating championship, and was awarded with the Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy.  Debating for the motion that ‘This House would Default” Thuillier argued that “Brussels created its own moral hazard at the outset” and that Ireland’s debt is “a European problem that needs a European solution”.

Debaters Áine Hartigan and Lorcan Price from King’s Inn won the Demosthenes Trophy for their account of why Ireland “should default on what it is unable to pay”.  The Trinity team of Ross O’Mahony and Mark Thuillier were runners up in the event.  Mark will join Áine and Lorcan on a debating tour of the United States at the invitation of the National Parliamentary Debate Association of America.  

Mark Thuillier, of Trinity College Dublin Law Society, individual winner of The Irish Times Debate Final 2011, is flanked by Eoin McVey (left), managing editor of The Irish Times, and debate chairman and Professor of Genetics at TCD Professor David McConnell at the awards ceremony.  (Photograph-Patrick O'Leary)

Now in its 51st year, the Irish Times debating championship was established to promote excellence in oratory and debating and is open to students in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Over 300 students took part in this year’s competition for one of twelve places in the final.  The debate was chaired by Professor of Genetics, David McConnell who said: “All of the participants, including those in the earlier rounds, have shown capability.  They have put their foot forward, they have tried, and they have put themselves out there.”