Orla Kelleher
@orlakelleher.bsky.social
Writing about climate, environmental and human rights law. Assistant prof in Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology, Ireland. She/her
Pinned
Orla Kelleher
@orlakelleher.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Happy to see this new article published yesterday - co-authored with @orlakelleher.bsky.social
“The implications of the European Court of Human Rights' climate rulings for climate litigation in Ireland: a new legal reality”, in the Irish Planning and Environmental Law Journal
“The implications of the European Court of Human Rights' climate rulings for climate litigation in Ireland: a new legal reality”, in the Irish Planning and Environmental Law Journal
New article by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and myself in the IPELJ exploring the implications of the ECtHR's climate rulings where we think through what #KlimaSeniorinnen might mean for NGO standing, constitutional rights climate cases, fair-share carbon budgeting and more.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.
Opinion: Beware of the judicial review red herring
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.
www.irishlegal.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Delighted to be part of a wonderful team and leading the new @reveljmce.bsky.social. Lots to come in terms of activities (please follow us!) - for now: thanks to our wonderful colleagues @maynoothlaw.bsky.social; @muresearch.bsky.social for their invaluable support!
Delighted to announce that we are the REVEL Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence @maynoothuniversity.ie. We will be organising a host of activities over the next 3 years on "Realising European Values and European Law" (REVEL). Stay tuned (follow us) for more.
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/...
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/...
School of Law and Criminology awarded Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology has just opened the new Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, entitled “Realising European Values through European Law” (REVEL). Following a
www.maynoothuniversity.ie
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Delighted to be part of a wonderful team and leading the new @reveljmce.bsky.social. Lots to come in terms of activities (please follow us!) - for now: thanks to our wonderful colleagues @maynoothlaw.bsky.social; @muresearch.bsky.social for their invaluable support!
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Looking forward to speaking about climate law & KlimaSeniorinnen alongside @orlakelleher.bsky.social on 13th November at the Law Soc’s annual Environmental and Planning Law conference.
Registration details here www.lawsociety.ie/productdetai...
Registration details here www.lawsociety.ie/productdetai...
November 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Looking forward to speaking about climate law & KlimaSeniorinnen alongside @orlakelleher.bsky.social on 13th November at the Law Soc’s annual Environmental and Planning Law conference.
Registration details here www.lawsociety.ie/productdetai...
Registration details here www.lawsociety.ie/productdetai...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
I wrote a piece for @thejournal.ie about the govt's approach to the Occupied Territories Bill. I argue that diluting the OTB would be a political choice, not a legal requirement. The govt has so far tried to avoid defending this policy choice by making vague appeals to confidential legal advice.
Law professor: Diluting the Occupied Territories Bill would be a political choice more than a legal one
Conor Crummey examines the Taoiseach’s comments that the Attorney General has advised that the bill in its current form would not be implementable.
www.thejournal.ie
October 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I wrote a piece for @thejournal.ie about the govt's approach to the Occupied Territories Bill. I argue that diluting the OTB would be a political choice, not a legal requirement. The govt has so far tried to avoid defending this policy choice by making vague appeals to confidential legal advice.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
WE'RE HIRING!
We are seeking a research assistant to work on the project: ’FEELING POLITICAL: A comparative investigation of the emotional politics of populist discourse on security’ led by Prof Claire Hamiliton
Deadline: 2 Nov
See: tinyurl.com/5n85hcab
We are seeking a research assistant to work on the project: ’FEELING POLITICAL: A comparative investigation of the emotional politics of populist discourse on security’ led by Prof Claire Hamiliton
Deadline: 2 Nov
See: tinyurl.com/5n85hcab
October 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
WE'RE HIRING!
We are seeking a research assistant to work on the project: ’FEELING POLITICAL: A comparative investigation of the emotional politics of populist discourse on security’ led by Prof Claire Hamiliton
Deadline: 2 Nov
See: tinyurl.com/5n85hcab
We are seeking a research assistant to work on the project: ’FEELING POLITICAL: A comparative investigation of the emotional politics of populist discourse on security’ led by Prof Claire Hamiliton
Deadline: 2 Nov
See: tinyurl.com/5n85hcab
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
I wrote a piece for the @ukcla.bsky.social blog about the Palestine Action JR, mainly focusing on the claim that the proscription order was ultra vires. The court's approach to this, I argue, failed to take seriously the requirement that legislation be read in line with the principle of legality.
Conor Crummey: The Principle of Legality, the Definition of ‘Terrorism’, and Palestine Action
Two judgments have so far been handed down in the matter of R (Ammori) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; the challenge to the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as …
ukconstitutionallaw.org
October 13, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I wrote a piece for the @ukcla.bsky.social blog about the Palestine Action JR, mainly focusing on the claim that the proscription order was ultra vires. The court's approach to this, I argue, failed to take seriously the requirement that legislation be read in line with the principle of legality.
New article by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and myself in the IPELJ exploring the implications of the ECtHR's climate rulings where we think through what #KlimaSeniorinnen might mean for NGO standing, constitutional rights climate cases, fair-share carbon budgeting and more.
Happy to see this new article published yesterday - co-authored with @orlakelleher.bsky.social
“The implications of the European Court of Human Rights' climate rulings for climate litigation in Ireland: a new legal reality”, in the Irish Planning and Environmental Law Journal
“The implications of the European Court of Human Rights' climate rulings for climate litigation in Ireland: a new legal reality”, in the Irish Planning and Environmental Law Journal
October 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
New article by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and myself in the IPELJ exploring the implications of the ECtHR's climate rulings where we think through what #KlimaSeniorinnen might mean for NGO standing, constitutional rights climate cases, fair-share carbon budgeting and more.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
🚨 New publication: A policy briefing report on the adoption of temperature neutrality as the basis for Ireland's carbon budgets.
This Wednesday, I will discuss this, and more, with the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy.
This Wednesday, I will discuss this, and more, with the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy.
Today @hannahdaly.ie and I have published a policy brief on Ireland's carbon budgets and the implications of basing them on an approach called temperature neutrality.
@ucc.ie
You can find key messages and recommendations in here ⬇️
@ucc.ie
You can find key messages and recommendations in here ⬇️
Basing Ireland's carbon budgets on temperature neutrality would undermine obligations under the Paris Agreement
doi.org
September 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
🚨 New publication: A policy briefing report on the adoption of temperature neutrality as the basis for Ireland's carbon budgets.
This Wednesday, I will discuss this, and more, with the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy.
This Wednesday, I will discuss this, and more, with the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
👏 Orla is currently conducting engaged research on EU and Irish climate law on behalf of EJNI.
Check out this recent piece in the @irishlegal.com on why ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 are crucial for intergenerational climate justice 🎯✊
Check out this recent piece in the @irishlegal.com on why ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 are crucial for intergenerational climate justice 🎯✊
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action. @maynoothlaw.bsky.social @orlakelleher.bsky.social
Opinion: Ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 crucial for intergenerational climate justice
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action.
www.irishlegal.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:07 AM
👏 Orla is currently conducting engaged research on EU and Irish climate law on behalf of EJNI.
Check out this recent piece in the @irishlegal.com on why ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 are crucial for intergenerational climate justice 🎯✊
Check out this recent piece in the @irishlegal.com on why ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 are crucial for intergenerational climate justice 🎯✊
Short op-ed by me explaining the importance of ambitious 2031-2040 carbon budgets and EU 2040 targets for intergenerational climate justice. These are critical moments to level with the public about the scale of the emission reduction challenge.
@maynoothlaw.bsky.social @ejni.bsky.social
@maynoothlaw.bsky.social @ejni.bsky.social
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action. @maynoothlaw.bsky.social @orlakelleher.bsky.social
Opinion: Ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 crucial for intergenerational climate justice
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action.
www.irishlegal.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Short op-ed by me explaining the importance of ambitious 2031-2040 carbon budgets and EU 2040 targets for intergenerational climate justice. These are critical moments to level with the public about the scale of the emission reduction challenge.
@maynoothlaw.bsky.social @ejni.bsky.social
@maynoothlaw.bsky.social @ejni.bsky.social
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action. @maynoothlaw.bsky.social @orlakelleher.bsky.social
Opinion: Ambitious emission reduction targets and carbon budgets for 2040 crucial for intergenerational climate justice
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action.
www.irishlegal.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Dr Orla Kelleher of Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology calls on Ireland to show greater leadership and ambition on climate action. @maynoothlaw.bsky.social @orlakelleher.bsky.social
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
A beautiful story by our very own Orlagh Gaynor.
Climate action is about so much more than cutting emissions. A greener, more sustainable, and healthier future for all is possible 🌱
Please give it a read and share it with your friends and family 🌍
Climate action is about so much more than cutting emissions. A greener, more sustainable, and healthier future for all is possible 🌱
Please give it a read and share it with your friends and family 🌍
What If They Fixed It?
A hypothetical, but not impossible story by Orlagh Gaynor, physiotherapist with Irish Doctors for the Environment, inspired by ideas from…
medium.com
July 25, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A beautiful story by our very own Orlagh Gaynor.
Climate action is about so much more than cutting emissions. A greener, more sustainable, and healthier future for all is possible 🌱
Please give it a read and share it with your friends and family 🌍
Climate action is about so much more than cutting emissions. A greener, more sustainable, and healthier future for all is possible 🌱
Please give it a read and share it with your friends and family 🌍
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
How wide is the margin of appreciation that states have when setting national carbon budgets under the ECtHR’s KlimaSeniorinnen judgment? 🌍📉
@andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and @orlakelleher.bsky.social explain why the margin is narrower than argued on this blog.
verfassungsblog.de/quantifying-...
@andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and @orlakelleher.bsky.social explain why the margin is narrower than argued on this blog.
verfassungsblog.de/quantifying-...
July 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
How wide is the margin of appreciation that states have when setting national carbon budgets under the ECtHR’s KlimaSeniorinnen judgment? 🌍📉
@andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and @orlakelleher.bsky.social explain why the margin is narrower than argued on this blog.
verfassungsblog.de/quantifying-...
@andrewlrjackson.bsky.social and @orlakelleher.bsky.social explain why the margin is narrower than argued on this blog.
verfassungsblog.de/quantifying-...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Constitutionalising Environmental Rights - attending launch of important research by @orlakelleher.bsky.social and Mary Dobbs in collaboration with @clmirl.bsky.social from @maynoothuniversity.ie
June 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Constitutionalising Environmental Rights - attending launch of important research by @orlakelleher.bsky.social and Mary Dobbs in collaboration with @clmirl.bsky.social from @maynoothuniversity.ie
Exciting development for Irish climate law, the Supreme Court has granted leave to appeal Coolglass v An Bord Pleanála
courts.ie/viewer/pdf/4...
courts.ie/viewer/pdf/4...
courts.ie
May 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Exciting development for Irish climate law, the Supreme Court has granted leave to appeal Coolglass v An Bord Pleanála
courts.ie/viewer/pdf/4...
courts.ie/viewer/pdf/4...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
We’ve breached 1.5ºC.
The climate crisis is an unprecedented health crisis — through air pollution, extreme weather, food insecurity, displacement, and more.
Fossil fuel ads are fuelling the fire. It’s time to ban them. #BanFossilAds
The climate crisis is an unprecedented health crisis — through air pollution, extreme weather, food insecurity, displacement, and more.
Fossil fuel ads are fuelling the fire. It’s time to ban them. #BanFossilAds
Ban fossil fuel ads: Stop airlines, airports, cars and cruise liners from advertising
Members of Irish Doctors for the Environment outline why a push against fossil fuels is key to truly tackling the climate crisis.
www.thejournal.ie
April 18, 2025 at 7:44 AM
We’ve breached 1.5ºC.
The climate crisis is an unprecedented health crisis — through air pollution, extreme weather, food insecurity, displacement, and more.
Fossil fuel ads are fuelling the fire. It’s time to ban them. #BanFossilAds
The climate crisis is an unprecedented health crisis — through air pollution, extreme weather, food insecurity, displacement, and more.
Fossil fuel ads are fuelling the fire. It’s time to ban them. #BanFossilAds
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
With global warming closing in on 1.5C, one aspect is clear: some countries' emissions have exceeded their fair share.
To deal with this, we present the concept of carbon debt in a new paper in @pnas.org.
Lead author @setupelz.bsky.social explains in a long thread 👇🧵
To deal with this, we present the concept of carbon debt in a new paper in @pnas.org.
Lead author @setupelz.bsky.social explains in a long thread 👇🧵
📢 New paper w/ G. Ganti @robinlamboll.bsky.social L. Grant @cjsmith.be @shonali-p.bsky.social @joerirogelj.bsky.social K. Riahi @wimthiery.bsky.social @gidden.bsky.social
We examine a forward-looking measure to guide collective efforts in the era of climate overshoot: net-zero carbon debt.
🧵
We examine a forward-looking measure to guide collective efforts in the era of climate overshoot: net-zero carbon debt.
🧵
March 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
With global warming closing in on 1.5C, one aspect is clear: some countries' emissions have exceeded their fair share.
To deal with this, we present the concept of carbon debt in a new paper in @pnas.org.
Lead author @setupelz.bsky.social explains in a long thread 👇🧵
To deal with this, we present the concept of carbon debt in a new paper in @pnas.org.
Lead author @setupelz.bsky.social explains in a long thread 👇🧵
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Short piece written w/ @orlakelleher.bsky.social for Rundale. We discuss the anti-democratic Planning and Development Act passed last year and consider its implications for movements seeking environmental justice in Ireland.
www.rundale.org/2025/03/27/o...
www.rundale.org/2025/03/27/o...
Organising Beyond the Courtroom: Environmental Contestation and Ireland’s Planning System - Rundale
Where legal cases are most effective is when they are part of a broader campaign strategy combining different tactics, including direct action, demonstrations, popular education and coalition building...
www.rundale.org
March 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Short piece written w/ @orlakelleher.bsky.social for Rundale. We discuss the anti-democratic Planning and Development Act passed last year and consider its implications for movements seeking environmental justice in Ireland.
www.rundale.org/2025/03/27/o...
www.rundale.org/2025/03/27/o...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
We have fantastic speakers lined up for our upcoming webinar on "Shaping a Fair and Effective Social Climate Plan for Ireland"🗣️
Last chance to register ➡️: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Last chance to register ➡️: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
March 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
We have fantastic speakers lined up for our upcoming webinar on "Shaping a Fair and Effective Social Climate Plan for Ireland"🗣️
Last chance to register ➡️: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Last chance to register ➡️: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
“A colossal missed opportunity” - a clear message in a new report from from Ireland’s fiscal and climate advisory councils.
Instead of taking action to cut emissions (making energy cleaner & more secure, & diversifying farming) we face €26 billion in compliance costs to meet EU targets
Instead of taking action to cut emissions (making energy cleaner & more secure, & diversifying farming) we face €26 billion in compliance costs to meet EU targets
March 4, 2025 at 7:02 AM
“A colossal missed opportunity” - a clear message in a new report from from Ireland’s fiscal and climate advisory councils.
Instead of taking action to cut emissions (making energy cleaner & more secure, & diversifying farming) we face €26 billion in compliance costs to meet EU targets
Instead of taking action to cut emissions (making energy cleaner & more secure, & diversifying farming) we face €26 billion in compliance costs to meet EU targets
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Big reason for the public view is that our politicians, department, advisory & academic experts have AGREED Irish deep climate action IS feasible,
BUT they have abjectly failed to communicate to the public what is REQUIRED: enforced limits on high emitting activities eg. diesel, dairy, data centres.
BUT they have abjectly failed to communicate to the public what is REQUIRED: enforced limits on high emitting activities eg. diesel, dairy, data centres.
February 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Big reason for the public view is that our politicians, department, advisory & academic experts have AGREED Irish deep climate action IS feasible,
BUT they have abjectly failed to communicate to the public what is REQUIRED: enforced limits on high emitting activities eg. diesel, dairy, data centres.
BUT they have abjectly failed to communicate to the public what is REQUIRED: enforced limits on high emitting activities eg. diesel, dairy, data centres.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
All eyes turn to the upcoming Supreme Court appeal in Coolglass, which will settle (hopefully) the legal obligations under the Climate Action Act 2015.
Ireland's energy regulator has abdicated all responsibility for setting policy in line with the climate law.
If the CRU doesn't take responsibility, then what public body will?
If the CRU doesn't take responsibility, then what public body will?
Ireland's energy regulator today published a long-awaited policy governing the connection of new data centres. Astonishingly, the policy makes NO provision for regulating the GHG emissions arising from data centres - which all evidence points to is very substantial - and actually..
February 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
All eyes turn to the upcoming Supreme Court appeal in Coolglass, which will settle (hopefully) the legal obligations under the Climate Action Act 2015.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
Coming out soon in Public Law from @mdobbs26.bsky.social and me, an account of how environmental principles have been impacted by Brexit, looking in particular at the High Court's strained approach to the "due regard" duty in the @rightscommaction.bsky.social case:
ssrn.com/abstract=513...
ssrn.com/abstract=513...
February 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Coming out soon in Public Law from @mdobbs26.bsky.social and me, an account of how environmental principles have been impacted by Brexit, looking in particular at the High Court's strained approach to the "due regard" duty in the @rightscommaction.bsky.social case:
ssrn.com/abstract=513...
ssrn.com/abstract=513...
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
A constant reminder that even if CO₂ emissions decreased annually as much as they did during the pandemic lockdown from now to 2030, we still wouldn't meet our emission target to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
February 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A constant reminder that even if CO₂ emissions decreased annually as much as they did during the pandemic lockdown from now to 2030, we still wouldn't meet our emission target to keep global warming below 1.5°C.
Reposted by Orla Kelleher
“At least €9 billion from Irish private pensions is estimated to be invested in the fossil fuel sector, new analysis by the Business Post shows.
The figures are based on sustainability disclosures for 2023 made individually by Ireland’s main private pension providers”
#TransitionRisk
The figures are based on sustainability disclosures for 2023 made individually by Ireland’s main private pension providers”
#TransitionRisk
Revealed: The €9 billion fossil fuel footprint in Irish private pensions
The new data shows for the first time the the average exposure of private pensions in Ireland to fossil fuels
www.businesspost.ie
February 12, 2025 at 8:16 AM
“At least €9 billion from Irish private pensions is estimated to be invested in the fossil fuel sector, new analysis by the Business Post shows.
The figures are based on sustainability disclosures for 2023 made individually by Ireland’s main private pension providers”
#TransitionRisk
The figures are based on sustainability disclosures for 2023 made individually by Ireland’s main private pension providers”
#TransitionRisk