Biography

Diarmuid Rossa Phelan BCL (NUI) LLM (BERKELEY) Ph.D. (EUROPEAN UNIV INST FLORENCE), Senior Counsel (Law Library Dublin), Barrister-at-law (Lincolns Inn, England & Wales, Northern Ireland), Attorney (State of New York). Diarmuid Rossa Phelan lectures in Competition Law, Jurisprudence, European Union Law and Advanced Lawyering Techniques. He was educated in Ireland, Belgium, the United States, Italy, and England and worked professionally in Washington D.C., New York, Paris, and Luxemburg. He joined the Law School as the Jean Monet Chair in European Law and now works as a full-time member of the faculty in a range of disciplines in the LL.B., LL.M., M.Litt, and PhD. programs. He was called to the bars of New York, England & Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. He has acted for a wide range of clients before the superior courts and international tribunals, and was granted letters patent by the government in 2008 to practice as Senior Counsel. He directs Trinity College’s participation in the China Europe Law School (cesl.edu.cn) and coordinates the public international law course in that masters program.

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Professional Qualifications

• BCL (NUI)
• LLM (BERKELEY)
• Ph D, (EUROPEAN UNIV INST FLORENCE)
• BL, (HON SOCIETY OF THE KING'S INNS)
• DALF (Min for Education, Paris)
• MA (Dub)
• Senior Counsel

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Representations

• As Senior Counsel, Pro Bono Publico, Public and Private Companies, State & Semi State Bodies, individuals and associations
• Director, Trinity College participation in Euro-China Law School, Beijing
• General Editor, Irish Journal of European Law
• Expert of Structured PhD Programs, Institute for European Studies TSU (in conjunction with European Commission)
• Reviewer (occasional) for European Journal of International Law, and Dublin University Law Journal

 

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Administrative Functions

• Director of the Euro-China Law School.

• Convenor of the Library Committee, Law School

• Careers Director, Law School

   

 

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Awards and Honours

International

• Foundation Robert Schuman Scholar (Paris)
• Baring Senior Scholar (University of Oxford)
• Canadian Faculty Research Award
• Kennedy Scholar

 

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Education Details

• European University Institute

• University of Oxford (Hertford College)

• French Ministry of National Education

• The Honorable Society of the King's Inns

• Lincoln's Inn London

• Bar of the State of New York

• University of California at Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall)

• University College Dublin

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Employment Details

 

Current

• Lecturer in Law / Assistant Professor; Law School, Trinity College Dublin.

• Senior Counsel at the Bar of Ireland.

Previous

• Jean Monet Chair in European Law, Trinity College Dublin

• Barrister-at-Law; pro bono publico actions for individuals and groups, commercial and private clients, State and semi-State Departments and Officers, in the Superior Courts in Ireland, in the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxemburg, and in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and in Committees and Tribunals of Inquiry established by the Irish Parliament.

• Jean Monet Fellow; European University Institute

• Legal Secretary / Referandaire, Cabinet of Advocate General Fennelly and stagiaire, cabinet of Justice Murray,. Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxemburg)

• Trainee Associate, Hughes Hubbard & Reed (Washington D.C., New York, Paris)

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Memberships /Associations /Publications

 

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Publications

Books

• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, Authority and Interpretaton in Law, (Four Courts Press, 2000).
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, Revolt or Revolution: At the Constitutional Boundaries of the European Community, (Round Hall Sweet & Maxwell, 1997).
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan with Bernard Rudden, Basic Community Cases, (2^nd ed., Oxford,1997).

Book Chapters

• "Monism in International Relations, Dualism in International Law, Trinitarianism in Legal Theory – An Irish Crossroad" in Marko Novacovik (editor), Basic Concepts of Public International Law - Monism & Dualism, (Belgrade, March 2013).
• With J.L. Murray, Chief Justice, "Der Schutz der sozialen Grundrechte in der Rechtsordnung Irlands" in Iliopoulos-Strangas (editor), Soziale Grundrechte in Europea Nach Lissabon (Nomos, 2010).
• "The Effect of Complexity of Law on Litigation Strategy" in, Masson, Antoine, Shariff, Mary J (editors), Legal Strategies - How Corporations Use Law to Improve Performance, (Berlin, Springer, 2010).
• Contributor to R. Zimmerman & S. Whittaker (editors), Good Faith in Contract in the European Community, (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
• The Context of Ratification in, Amsterdam: What the Treaty Means, (Institute of European Affairs, 1998).

Journal Articles

• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, The Dynamic Unprohibited Nature of Dominance” (2013) European Competition Law Review 336
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, "Lawyering Skills Education in the Irish University" (2010) 3 Phoenix Law Review 295.
• Kees Jan Kuilwijk and Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, "On the Tax-deductibility of Fines for EC Competition Law Infringements", (2010) 3 European Competition Law Review 131.
• "Reflections on Lies in a Mirror", (2008) 1 Dublin University Law Journal 449.
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, Right to Life v Trade in Services: the Normative Shaping of EC Law, (1992) 55 Modern Law Review 670.
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, National Constitutional Law and European Integration: FIDE Report, (1997) Irish Journal of European Law 24.
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, "Case C-75/92 Gao Yao", (1996) Common Market Law Review 149.
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, "Necessitated by the Obligations of Membership? Article 29.4.5E of the Constitution", (1993) Irish Law Times 272.
• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, "Between the Single Market and the European Union", (1993) Political Science and Politics 732.

Major Reports

(List confined to cases in Irish superior courts only)

• A -v- MJELR & Ors [2001] IEHC 481 (Edwards J.)
• A.A.-v- Minister for Justice and Law Reform and RAT [2010] IEHC 504 (High Court)
• AA [Somalia] -v- MJELR and RAT [2010] IEHC 504 (5th November 2011 High Court, Ryan J.)
• Aderigbe (A Minor) -v- Refugee Appeals Tribuna (High Court, November 2011, Hogan J.)
• An Post -v- Commission for Communications Regulation [Hedigan J. High Court 4th October 2012]
• Braddish -v- DPP [2001] 3 IR 127; [2002] 1 ILRM 151 (Supreme Court)
• Brendan Kilty -v- Judge Cormac Dunne (High Court, October 2011, Hedigan J.
• Brightwater Selection (Ireland) Ltd -v- Minister for Social and Family Affairs [2011] IEHC 510 (High Court)
• Broadnet Ltd -v- Director of Telecommunications Regulation [2000] 3 IR 281; [2000] 2 ILRM 241 (High Court)
• Carey -v- DJ Hussey & DPP [2000] 2 ILRM 401 (High Court)
• Carroll -v- Law Society of Ireland No.1 [2000] 1 ILRM 161 [2003] 1 IR 278 (High Court)
• Carroll -v- Law Society of Ireland No.2  [2003] 1 IR 284 (High Court)
• Chambers -v- DPP [2004] 11 I.C.L.MD. 6 (High Court)
• Commission for Communications Regulation -v- An Post (High Court, Hederman J., 8^th March 2013)
• Corbett -v- DPP [1999] 2 IR 179 (High Court)
• Coughlan -v- Broadcasting Complaints Commission [2000] 3 IR 1 (High Court, Supreme Court)
• Danninger -v- Bus Atha Cliath and Deepdrill Developments Limited [2007] IEHC 29 (High Court)
• DPP (Gannon) -v- Conlon [2001] 4 IR 376 (High Court)
• DPP (Vance) -v- Daly [2002] 2 ILRM 290 (High Court)
• DPP -v- Redmond Cabot Westlaw [2004] 7 I.C.L.M.D. 17; [2004] 22 ILT 305 (High Court)
• England -v- Judge Dunne & DPP, Unreported Judgment, High Court, 14 February 2003. 
• F.U.R. -v- Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform e.a. [2009] IEHC 355 (High Court)
• Gordon -v- DPP [2002] 2 IR 369; [2003] 1 ILRM 81 (Supreme Court)
• Grealis -v- DPP [2001] 3 IR 144; [2002] 1 ILRM 241 (Supreme Court)
• Heaney -v- Commissioner of An Garda Siochána [2007] 2 IR 69 (High Court)
• K -v- Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform e.a. [2010] IEHC 277 (High Court)
• King -v- Minister for Environment [2004] 3 IR 345 (High Court)
• King -v- Minister for Environment (No. 2) [2007] 1 IR 296 (Supreme Court)
• L. -v- N.C.Circuit Court Digest [1998] 16 ILT 314 (Circuit Court)
• Maxwell -v- Minister for Agriculture [1999] 2 IR 474; [1999] 1 ILRM 161 (High Court)
• McAuley -v- Governor of Mountjoy Prison, (Supreme Court, 29 November 2012) [2012] IESC 57
• McAnenley -v- An Bord Pleanala [2002] 2 IR 763 (High Court)
• McBride -v- Galway Corporation [1998] 1 IR 485 (High Court, Supreme Court)
• McDonnell -v- Brady [2001] 3 IR 588 (Supreme Court)
• McFarlane -v- DPP [2007] 1 IR 134, [2007] 6 I.C.L.M.D. 122 (Supreme Court)
• McIlvenny -v- Port of Waterford Authority and the Department of Transport (Rights Commissioner)  
• P.K. -v- Minister for Justice (Cooke J. 13th July 2010, High Court, written judgment)
• McKenna -v- An Taoiseach (No 2) [1995] 2 IR 10 (High Court, Supreme Court)
• Moriarty Tribunal 22.3.2011
• MQ -v- Gleeson, VEC, and Eastern Health Board [1998] 4 IR 85 (High Court, Hogan J)
• O.A.Y.A (A Minor) -v- RAT [2011] IEHC 373 (High Court)
• O’Beolain -v- Fahy [2001] 2 IR 279 (An Chuirt Uachtarach)
• P.L. -v- Buttimer [2004] 4 IR 345 (Supreme Court)
• Phone Paid Services, Modeva, Zamano plc -v- Commission for Communication Regulation, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court, Cross J., 2nd June 2012)
• R -v- MJELR & Ors., [2009] IEHC 355 (Irvine J.) 
• Robinson -v- Judge O’Donnell [2005] 11 I.C.L.M.D. 58; [2005] IEHC 257 (Hanna J.)
• Sherwin –v- Minister for Environment [2004] 4 IR 279 (Costello P., High Court)
• Stephens -v- Connellan [2002] 4 IR 321 (High Court)
• Tannam -v- An Post [2003] 14 ELR 53 [2003] 3 I.C.L.M.D. 34 [2003] 21 ILT 261 (High Court); [2004] 6 I.C.L.M.D. 32 (Supreme Court)
• TS -v- DPP (26.2.2004 High Court) [2005] 2 IR 595 (Supreme Court)
• V.A -v- MJELR (High Court, 21st April 2010, Edwards J.)
• V.F.A.A. -v- Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform and RAT [2009] IEHC 481 (High Court)

Working Papers

• Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, “The Application of United States and European Community Domestic Trade Laws to the Imports of Nonmarket Economy GATT Contracting Partis - A Time for Change”, EUI/Law 1992/28 (Florence).

Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, “Popular Sovereignty and Natural Law”, (1997) 86 Studies 215.

Conference Proceedings

Extract from June 2012 – June 2013 only

 14-15 June 2013 – Speaker and Paper “Academy or profession – skills: which do our graduates need and why?” – International Conference of the Euro-China Law School on Legal Education, Beijing

 29-31 May 2013 – Speaker and paper “Monism, Dualism, Trinitarianism in Ireland and EU law”, International Conference on Dualism in Public International Law, Canj, Montenegro (University of Belgrade)

 14th May 2013, ERASMUS invitational lecture “Europe, Ireland and the Financial Crisis”, Hamburg University

 2nd May 2013, Speaker, Paper, and Chair - "The Design of a Bologna Compliant Structured PhD in European Studies", Institute of European Studies, Tbilisi State University

 1st May 2013, Speaker and Paper - "The Pros and Cons of Administrative Design in PhD Courses", Institute of European Studies, Tbilisi State University

 14^th March 2013, Chair, “The common good in Irish law”, Irish Jurisprudence Society, Trinity College Dublin

 27^th November 2012, speaker “Do gender quotas achieve gender equality?” European Law Students Association, Trinity College Dublin

 25^th October 2012 , Chair, Irish Jurisprudence Society, Trinity College Dublin, (topic: “Constitutions, Conventions and Ultimate Rule of Recognition”)

 29^th September 2012, Convenor and speaker, International Legal Careers for Graduates, International Bar Association, Trinity College Dubliat

 28^th September 2012, Speaker “That this House would legalize the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport” Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin

 28^th June 2012, Chair, Public Procurement Conference, Royal Irish Academy / Irish Centre for European Law, Dublin

 21^st June 2012, Chair, Procurement Law Forum, Arthur Cox, Dublin

 

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Postgraduate Research Students

Diarmuid Rossa Phelan supervises dissertations at LL.B., LL.M., M.Litt. and Ph.D. level, in European Union Law, Competition Law, Jurisrudence, Legal Theory and Legal Practice. He coordinates the public international law module in the Euro-China Law School. He has acted as external examiner for Dublin City University and University College Dublin. He acts as an internal examiner in the Law School of LL.B., LL.M., M.Litt. and Ph.D. dissertations. Previous students have defended Ph.D.s in the areas of Regulatory/EU Law and Jurisprudence/Constitutional Law.

 

Current doctoral students are:

John Cotter

Kieran Francis

Charles Garavan

Tat Chee Tsui

 

Current Master in Laws dissertation students are:

Shannon Bennett

Joseph Coyne

David McBurnie

Michael Smith

 

 

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Links

 

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