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The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Supreme Court's sex ruling faces legal tests – will they succeed?
Starmer's view was echoed by Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, who described the ruling as 'crystal clear' and stressed the need for 'services that are safe and appropriate and respect [everyone's] privacy and dignity'. But what was billed as legal clarity has created 'greater confusion as to what this now means in practice,' Dr Alexander Maine of City Law School, University of London, told the Sunday National. For example, guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) states that trans men must use women's toilets – from which they could be excluded for looking too much like a man. But they also cannot be left with nowhere to go. The question of which toilets trans people can use has become a battleground (Image: Pixabay) Dr Damian Gonzalez-Salzberg, an associate professor at the University of Birmingham Law School, said the guidance 'seems to go beyond what the Supreme Court has said, or at least it might not have taken the whole picture into consideration'. The guidance now faces multiple legal challenges, with allegations that it misreads the ruling, exceeds the law, and violates human rights. Rather than ending the debate on trans rights and single-sex spaces, it has triggered three court cases – pushing the issue back into litigation and the media spotlight. Challenge one: Good Law Project and human rights. THE first, a wide-reaching legal challenge, is being brought by the Good Law Project. The group has taken legal action against both the EHRC and Phillipson, the Equalities Minister, over allegations that the guidance on the Supreme Court case breaches the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Dr Maine explained that the core argument looked back to a crucial case for gender law in the UK: Goodwin 2002. This held that the 'UK was in breach of its obligations to uphold trans people's human rights, specifically the right to marry under Article 12 [of the ECHR], and the right to a private and family life,' he said. The case led directly to the 2004 Gender Recognition Act (GRA). Dr Maine said that, given the legalisation of gay marriage across the UK since 2002, the argument under Article 12 would no longer hold weight – but the right to privacy under Article 8 could prove crucial. READ MORE: Kelly Given: Defining women by our biology alone is chilling 'It may be that because trans people will effectively be outed if they have to use single-sex spaces that they do not appear to adhere to – for instance, a trans woman using a male space – that might go against their right to privacy,' Dr Maine said. Dr Gonzalez-Salzberg said Good Law Project's argument was 'very careful' and relied on European jurisprudence. 'They suggest that it was the EHRC that misunderstood the court,' he explained. 'So that's the first ground that they're proposing – your guidance is or will be in breach of human rights if implemented because you're misreading what the law is. 'Then the second argument is, OK, if you are reading this correctly, it's still a breach of human rights, actually. They focus on what the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence has been regarding trans rights. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg'This is a very, very lengthy jurisprudence that goes from the early 1980s … That jurisprudence has got to a point which is very clear that trans people have the right to live their lives in their acquired gender, which this guidance does not seem to allow you to do when, well, you don't even know where you can pee.' Dr Gonzalez-Salzberg further argued that there could be a case under Article 14 of the ECHR, which prohibits discrimination 'on any ground'. He said: 'If you're taking certain measures, you are affecting this group quite heavily, and that's one of the problems with the EHRC guidance. They said, OK, if you have mixed toilets, this might be indirect discrimination against women because women might be put in a disadvantaged situation by this general policy. 'They're not saying the same regarding trans people, and that is worrying. If you have a policy that trans people cannot use their gender's toilets, well, this will put them in a disadvantaged situation.' He added that Article 8 and Article 14 therefore represented 'two strong arguments to be made as to human rights of trans people'. Challenge two: Liberty and the consultation period. NINE days after the Supreme Court's ruling on sex, the EHRC issued its 'interim guidance' telling firms and public bodies how it should be interpreted. At the same time, it opened a two-week consultation period to advise on permanent guidance which is due to follow later this year. After concerns were raised, the EHRC extended this to a six-week consultation. However, human rights group Liberty launched a legal action calling this 'wholly insufficient'. Dr Gonzalez-Salzberg pointed to case law from the High Court, which in January ruled that an eight-week consultation period for £3 billion cuts to incapacity benefits was too short for such major changes. The door to the UK Supreme Court in London (Image: Archive)The academic further said that the EHRC was in danger of making the same mistake as the Supreme Court and excluding the voices of those most impacted – trans people. 'If you only get six weeks, you're really restricting the possibility of people intervening," Dr Gonzalez-Salzberg said. "Especially when you consider the claims about how trans people were not really listened to in the Supreme Court's case. For the EHRC now to repeat this sort of mistake seems quite serious.' However, on Friday the High Court dismissed Liberty's claim, with Mr Justice Swift saying: 'There is no 12-week rule. The requirements of fairness are measured in specifics and context is important. 'I am not satisfied that it is arguable that the six-week consultation period that the EHRC has chosen to use is unfair." Challenge three: The European Court of Human Rights. AS things stand, there is less information available about the third legal challenge against the UK's new rules on sex and gender. However, Dr Victoria McCloud, who was the first openly trans judge in the UK before stepping down in 2024, has made clear her intention to challenge the Supreme Court's decision at the European Court of Human Rights. In the wake of the ruling in April, Dr McCloud told the BBC that she felt it breached her human rights and left her with the legal "nonsense" of being "two sexes at once". Inset: Trans judge Dr Victoria McCloud (Image: NQ) Dr McCloud also raised concerns that trans people had not been heard during the Supreme Court's deliberations on the biological sex ruling. "Trans people were wholly excluded from this court case," she told the BBC. "I applied to be heard. Two of us did. We were refused.' Dr Gonzalez-Salzberg said the ruling would 'have a very strong detrimental impact on trans people'. 'It's already having that and that is clearly problematic, and in many ways also because trans people were in a very definitive way excluded from properly being heard in the ruling, which makes the situation even, even worse.' There is a clear pattern behind the three legal cases – trans people believe they were not listened to in a ruling which directly impacted their lives. Instead, they will make themselves heard in court.
Agriland
7 days ago
- Science
- Agriland
Climate scientists gather in Dublin to discuss agriculture
Climate scientists are attending the meeting of the Council of the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) which opened today, Tuesday June 3, 2025, at Dublin Castle. The GRA brings together climate scientists from across the world to enhance collaboration and progress climate research in agriculture. Ireland, through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), officially assumed the chair of the GRA from January 1, 2025, for a period of 18 months. This is the first time that Ireland has chaired the GRA since joining in 2009. Climate scientists Established in 2009, the GRA aims to provide a framework for voluntary action to increase international cooperation and investment in research activities for mitigating agricultural GHG and improving carbon sequestration, as well as improving the measurement of emissions in different agricultural systems. The GRA also helps scientists to gain expertise in mitigation through developing new partnerships and exchanges. A total of 68 countries and 29 partners are now members. The council meeting in Dublin sees delegates from a large number of these countries and partners in attendance. Over the course of the two-day meeting, they will consider among other things, a new Strategic Plan to 2030, as well as hearing updates from the activities of the four research groups. These groups are: livestock; croplands; paddy rice; and integrative cross cutting areas. They will also consider proposals for new flagship projects in areas such as the biological nitrification inhibition of pasture swards to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. They will additionally consider the outcomes of completed flagship projects such as the 'Feed Additives' project that has developed practical tools, protocols and guidelines for the testing and implementation of feed additives. The council meeting will be chaired by officials from DAFM. Many of the delegates will attend the 'Agriculture and Climate Change: Science into Action' conference also taking place in Dublin Castle on Thursday (June 5). They will also visit Teagasc Grange Research Centre and a farm on Friday (June 6), to see first-hand the research taking place on agricultural GHGs in Ireland and how the outputs of this research are being implemented on an Irish farm. Along with Ireland as the chair, the GRA special representative, who is the ambassador for the GRA, is Dr. Harry Clark, chief scientist of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre. Prof. Tommy Boland, University College Dublin (UCD) School of Agriculture and Food Science, is a co-chair of the livestock research group (one of four research groups) of the GRA.
Travel Daily News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
SSP America named Greenest Airport Contractor by GRA
SSP America wins Greenest Airport Contractor Award for the second year, with 200+ restaurants certified under GRA's sustainability standards. SSP America, a division of SSP Group, has been named the Greenest Airport Contractor by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) for the second consecutive year. More than 200 SSP America restaurants across 16 airports have earned the GRA's Certified Green Restaurant Sustainability Certification. GRA is a national nonprofit organization that has been helping restaurants become more sustainable since 1990. SSP America's Certified Green Restaurants can be found at Calgary International Airport (YYC), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Orlando International Airport (MCO), San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Portland International Airport (PDX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The 205 restaurants meet GRA's rigorous standards across eight environmental categories: energy, water, waste, reusables and disposables, chemicals and pollution, food, building and furnishing, and education and transparency. SSP America is committed to sustainability, environmental protection, and social responsibility, and plans to have all locations GRA certified by the end of 2025. 'I applaud SSP America on winning the 2025 Greenest Airport Contractor Award and on their continued commitment to improving their environmental impact,' said Michael Oshman, GRA chief executive officer and founder. 'SSP America's Certified Green Restaurants have set an example for others across North America to follow. By taking great environmental leadership in the restaurant industry, SSP America is proving it's possible for any restaurant, food service contractor, or airport to dramatically improve their environmental footprint today.' SSP America Division President Amanda Busby also commented, 'We're thrilled to have won the Greenest Airport Contractor Award from the Green Restaurant Association for the second year. Getting more than 200 restaurants certified – the most of any airport food service contractor – is a team effort, and I'm grateful for the hard work at all 16 airports and the Support Center that made this possible. Between 2024 and 2025, this team certified more than 100 additional restaurants, and we look forward to certifying more in the months to come. I also want to thank Michael Oshman and the entire GRA team for the work that you do.'
The Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Gardaí are 'unfairly' targeting Drew Harris for blame over recent changes, says oversight chief
THE HEAD OF a garda oversight body said she believes that Drew Harris has been 'unfairly targeted' for blame by gardaí for implementing a Government change programme. Recently Dr Elaine Byrne sat down with The Journal to discuss policing in Ireland and explain the role her new agency, the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA), plays. Byrne believes frustrations, change fatigue and 'stones in their shoes' problems are causing trouble in garda ranks. It has been a bruising few years for Harris and the garda management team, underlined by the number of flashpoints between them and representative bodies. These issues included a dispute around shift rosters and also an ongoing perception of overbearing discipline linked to administrative tasks. Gardaí who responded to a survey by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) voted 98.7% in favour of a vote of no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris . The GRA in recent weeks refused to invite Harris to its annual delegate conference which prompted new Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to also avoid attending. Again industrial relations between Garda Headquarters and rank and file gardaí are at a low ebb. Byrne believes the disquiet about Harris is from a so-called 'change fatigue' among serving members of the force. 'One thing that the guards don't get enough credit for is the extraordinary amount of change that has happened in a very short period of time. It is the most momentous period of change in the history of the guards,' she said. Byrne explained this includes a major redrawing of garda divisions, a new operating model and the introduction of new legislation that governs the organisation. She also said that there are now new focuses, including upskilling in technology and a greater emphasis on civilianisation, all adding to the daily challenges for gardaí. When asked to clarify if she thought the change model was directly affecting the garda relationship with Drew Harris she again repeated that the reform programme was difficult. 'I think there's a lot of change happening at the same time. We have every year, when we go out and listen, we produce this report called What We Heard, and one of the things that we've heard is change fatigue,' she said. Byrne said it is not Drew Harris who is responsible for the new operating model and reform programme but rather it was handed to him by Government. 'It is a government initiative that he has been tasked with implementing, I think that he individually is unfairly the target of all of the ills within the guards,' she said. Commissioner Drew Harris and Dr Elaine Byrne at a Policing Authority meeting. 'Not standing on the sidelines' When we met Byrne, it had been a tough few days for An Garda Síochána – the death and funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley was weighing heavy on her. Byrne herself was dealing with the emotional toll – fighting back tears as she described signing the book of condolence in a local garda station with her daughters. The practising barrister, who was also a newspaper opinion writer and advocate for governance and accountability, joined the then Policing Authority in 2021 and would ultimately assume chair of the body in 2024 from former head of RTÉ Bob Collins. 'I felt it was very easy to be standing on the sidelines and telling people who are on the pitch what to do. So when the opportunity came to be be more involved in the future of policing in Ireland I was very excited about that,' she said. The Policing Authority is no more and it is now the PCSA which also carries the functions of the subsumed Garda Inspectorate into its ranks. Advertisement The body meets senior garda management once a month to discuss issues. One issue constantly cropping up is the problem of overbearing bureaucracy and the relationship between gardaí, their representative bodies and Drew Harris. She has also identified from talking to guards that there are massive issues around resourcing – not enough officers, not enough cars available to respond to calls, for example. She also said there is a lack of interagency work especially around mental health calls and frustrations from gardaí being sent out on non-crime related calls. She said that concerns over a complete redesign of the policing model may be 'mismatched'. She said she has faith in the model and that when she and her colleagues dig into issues they find that they are problems that are not associated with the reform but rather are issues because of geography and resourcing. 'When I meet gardaí, they are proud to be guards – they love being a guard. It's a badge of honor being a guard. 'And then there are just what I would call these small stones in your shoe. And if every day, the stone is in your shoe, then it's just becoming more and more frustrating,' she explained. Byrne said she is constantly meeting gardaí, including recently as she was at mass, who are raising their concerns with her. Dr Elaine Byrne of the PCSA. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal Suspensions When not sitting on the PCSA committee, Byrne often finds herself in the Workplace Relations Commission where she acts as a barrister defending and advocating for people in employment disputes. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the problem of garda suspensions. An embarrassing case in which a garda was suspended and then cleared over giving a bicycle to an elderly man led to significant criticism of garda management . There has also been a number of cases before the High Court and the Workplace Relations Commission in which internal discipline mechanisms were found to be improper. The high point of suspensions was in 2021/2022 when there were 44 and last year it had fallen to 18. To date in 2025 there have been six. She said there has to be a 'robust way of investigating' allegations of wrongdoing but said since the highpoint of suspensions in 2022 'things have got a little more sophisticated'. Byrne said that everyone is entitled to fairness. 'Just because you are accused doesn't mean you did anything wrong,' she added. 'It is important that there is a disciplinary system that's efficient, effective and fair. 'There have been occasions where the disciplinary system has been analysed in High Court judgments and the processes of the guards have not always been ones that have passed mustard. 'Really it's not fair to those members, and it's not fair that those under investigation are left hanging for an amount of time that's disproportionate,' she added. At present the PCSA is asking the public to contact it to tell its members what they should prioritise when being watchdog to their police force. Byrne and her colleagues have been consulted by the Department of Justice as the campaign begins to find the new Garda Commissioner. The power to select the new 'number one' will be for the Government. Drew Harris's term will come to an end in September. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Guaranteed Rate Affinity Welcomes Back Kevin Dilday as Area Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region
CHICAGO, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guaranteed Rate Affinity, a leading mortgage provider offering unparalleled lending services through its partnership with Coldwell Banker, has announced the return of Kevin Dilday as Area Sales Manager for the Mid-Atlantic region. Dilday, a mortgage industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, previously served as a Regional Manager at Guaranteed Rate Affinity before departing in 2022. He now returns, citing the company's unmatched culture, technology, and strong relationships with loan originators as key reasons for rejoining. 'Guaranteed Rate Affinity's marketing, tech, and culture is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else,' said Dilday. 'If you're a self-sourced originator, this is the place you want to be. With all the tech tools we have and are continuing to enhance at the company, it couldn't be a better time to join GRA.' During his previous tenure at GRA, Dilday was instrumental in bringing on 11 Chairman's Circle members and promoting a work-life balance culture supported by tools like PowerVP. 'Kevin is a true leader and we're glad to welcome him back,' said Jay Crowder, Regional President of the Mid-Atlantic an Southeast. 'We're confident he'll play a major role in helping drive growth and attracting top talent across the region.' About Guaranteed Rate Affinity Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Anywhere Integrated Services (NYSE: HOUS), which owns some of the industry's most recognized and respected real estate brands. The innovative JV has funded over $100 billion in loans since its inception. Guaranteed Rate Affinity originates and markets its mortgage lending services to Anywhere's real estate, brokerage, and relocation subsidiaries. Guaranteed Rate Affinity provides unmatched support to Anywhere brokers coast-to-coast, ensuring their customers receive fast pre-approvals, appraisals, and loan closings, creating the ability for buyers to move quickly and confidently when purchasing homes in today's competitive market. The company also provides the same services to the public and other real estate brokerage and relocation companies across the country—helping employers improve their employees' relocation experience by prioritizing customer service, digital mortgage ease, and competitive rates. Disclosure: Guaranteed Rate owns a controlling 50.1% stake in Guaranteed Rate Affinity, and Anywhere owns 49.9%. Visit for more information. Media Contact:press@
