Panel announced for Armagh People's Assembly on Irish Unity

Newry and Armagh MP Dáire Hughes has announced panel members for the upcoming People’s Assembly on Irish Unity in Armagh City on 29 October, 7pm with prominent Human Rights Lawyer Darragh Mackin To Chair. Darragh has acted in cases at all levels including in the Supreme Courts in London and Dublin, The European Court of Human Rights, the African Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Special Procedures.

The Panel consists of Sinead Hughes, Ian Marshall and  Dr Anne Devlin. Organised by Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland the event will be the 18th such public event to have been held in the last two years. 

People’s Assemblies and sectoral events have been held in Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, Louth, Donegal, Fermanagh, West Tyrone, Lurgan and the Gaeltacht in Conamara. All have been very successful.

Dáire Hughes said: “Constitutional change is now fixed on the political horizon. Conversations about the constitutional future of the island of Ireland are happening across the country and beyond."

The Panel

Sinéad Hughes

Hughes is highly respected as a dedicated advocate for equality and social justice, driven by a deep commitment to creating an inclusive society. 

She is married with two adult sons and lives in Armagh city although is originally from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. She has worked in the health service for over 32 years with diverse experiences across a broad range of settings. Sinead is a dedicated advocate for equality and social justice, driven by a deep commitment to creating an inclusive society.  She comes from a family with deep grassroots in community development and activism. Sinead worked with the Traveller community for over 7 years and is very proud of her involvement as a Research Coordinator with the all-Ireland Traveller Health Study.  With a deep commitment to involving people from all walks of life, Sinead is keen that we need to listen and offer a safe environment to help bridge any divides, honouring the traditions, beliefs, and values of others in doing so. Driven by a vision of fairness and mutual respect, Sinead strives to create positive change in both her work and personal life. In her free time Sinead is interested in sport, particularly hurling, Gaelic football and camogie.

Ian Marshall

 Marshall was elected as an Independent Senator to the upper house of the Irish government, serving in Seanad Eireann from 2018-2020. He is a former President of the Ulster Farmers Union and member of the Agri-Food Strategy Board.

He is currently Head of Business Development and Policy in the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) in Queens University Belfast. He has over 35 years’ experience working in the agri-food industry and rural business. He previously worked in the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queens University Belfast, linking research and development with the industry across themes of food integrity, agricultural and environmental resilience, nutrition and preventative medicine, enabling technologies, and data Information.

Ian was elected as an Independent Senator to the upper house of the Irish government, serving in Seanad Eireann from 2018-2020. He is a former President of the Ulster Farmers Union and member of the Agri-Food Strategy Board. He studied Agriculture at Greenmount College and later completed an MSc in Agri-Food Business Development at Ulster University and Babson College, Boston, USA. He also completed training as a Professional Member of the Institute of Agricultural Management through the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.

In addition, he manages the family farm in partnership with his son running beef cattle, tillage, and a contract feeding business.

 Dr Anne Devlin

Devlin is a Research Officer in the Economic Analysis Division. Anne has also been involved in research projects examining various aspects of the all-island economy.

Her research interests are primarily in the areas of labour economics, economics of disability, economics of education, and social inclusion. Anne has also been involved in research projects examining various aspects of the all-island economy. Anne obtained her PhD in Economics from Queen’s University Belfast in 2021. Her PhD research examined the high levels of disability in the north and whether there is a relationship with the ‘Troubles’. During her doctoral studies Anne also conducted a research internship at the NI Assembly Research and Information Service. Anne holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Management from Ulster University. Prior to joining the Institute in December 2020 Anne held a post at Ulster University.  Anne is a Visiting Researcher at Queen’s Business School, Queen’s University Belfast and a Steering Group member of the All-Island Social Security Network.

Chairperson Darragh Mackin

Mackin has developed a specialist practice in Human Rights, Public Law, Litigation and International law.  He has appeared in some of the most complex Inquests and Inquiries in Ireland. He regularly advises individuals and companies both domestically and internationally, with a particular specialism in data protection and privacy.  Darragh also advises on reputation management and the challenges emanating from the misuse of social media, GDPR, and an individual’s ‘right to be forgotten’ online. He has acted in cases at all levels including in the Supreme Courts in London and Dublin, The European Court of Human Rights, the African Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Special Procedures.  In addition to practice, Darragh is an associate lecturer of Public Law at the University of Ulster and has delivered a number of guest lectures at Cambridge University, Trinity University, Queen's University Belfast, and DCU.  

Looking forward to the event Hughes concluded "The People’s Assembly in the Armagh City Hotel on 29 October is an opportunity for the public to engage in the growing debate on the future shape of the new Ireland. The Assembly is organised under the broad theme of ‘The New Ireland is for Everyone – Have Your Say’.

"So on 29 October join us in Armagh for this exciting conversation and help shape the new Ireland – a shared Ireland in which all citizens are treated on the basis of equality and of respect.

"The Assembly is an open invitation to everyone, whether you are for or against Irish Unity, to have your say on constitutional change.”

Registration is now open for the Armagh People’s Assembly at www.eventbrite.co.uk