Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

An Investigative Analysis On Female Presence And Highly Ranked Positions In Professional Kitchens In Ireland, Roann Byrne

Dissertations

This study aims to gain an understanding of the state of the cheffing industry currently, to analyse whether there is a lack of women within the industry particularly in positions of high power. This research intends to understand the causes for the lack and showcase possible solutions and recommendations for this. It exists as a role of advocacy; hoping to inspire more people into the career of cheffing, and to retain women within it. It aspires to challenge and thus forth change the narratives that have pushed many people, particularly women, out of this work for so long. This research …

Exploring Food Traditions Within The Four Quarter Days Of The Irish Calendar Year, Caitríona Nic Philibín

Dissertations

This study explores food traditions in the four quarter days of the Irish calendar year. Imbolg or St. Brigid’s Day, Bealtaine, Lughnasa and Samhain mark significant moments in the agricultural calendar. Food traditions, customs and practices relating to these days are recorded in the abundant resources of the collections in the Folklore Department, University College Dublin. However, to date, with few exceptions, little food specific research has been carried out on these collections. This thesis aims to begin to fill that gap whilst highlighting many opportunities for further research. Throughout this process we witness the illumination of a rich food …

Adopting A Systematic Approach To Tasting Cider Within The Irish Craft Cider Industry, Richie Brady

Dissertations

Craft cider-makers produce less than 1% of Irish cider which is a significantly smaller percentage than craft producers in other beverage markets. This study contextualises Irish cider’s importance by exploring its rich history in Gaelic and Georgian Ireland. It then examines how that importance is not reflected in today’s market and posits that introducing a new systematic approach to tasting will enable cider to be viewed beyond what many see as a cheap, simple summer drink. A systematic approach to tasting is a structured and repeatable method of describing taste using a lexicon of agreed words. Unlike other drinks, such …

Life Without Choice: How Do Mothers With Children Living In Direct Provision In Ireland Feel About Their Limited Role As Family Food Providers?, Michele Moran

Dissertations

Direct Provision was introduced in Ireland during the year 2000. Latest figures show 5,848 asylum seekers are in Direct Provision (RIA, 2018). Physical and mental health research studies have highlighted the challenges within this system (Manandhar et al., 2008). Food provision is one of these challenges. Food, culture, religion, income, and isolation are highlighted in this research study. The key objectives of this research were (1) to review the literature on aspects of food and identity, culture, tribalism, and ethnicity concerning asylum seekers living in Direct Provision in Ireland. (2) To conduct qualitative semi-structured interviews with mothers living in different …

An Exploration Of How Early Years Managers And Staff Are Responding To The Needs Of Children Experiencing Homelessness, Jacinta Corcoran

Dissertations

Homelessness in Ireland has increased rapidly over recent years with children and families making up increasing proportions of the numbers recorded whilst single parent families are representing a disproportionate number of families experiencing homelessness. Consequently many early years services are supporting unprecedented numbers of children who are experiencing homelessness to engage and fully participate in early education programmes. The experience of homelessness can permeate many levels and various aspects of a child’s life particularly when historical risks and adversities are to be factored. Within this context this study guided by an ecological framework explores the range of influences on the …

An Exploration Of How Gardaí Perceive Whistleblowing In An Garda Síochána., Aodhán Healy

Dissertations

An Garda Síochána was established in 1922 as the national police force of the Irish state and has undergone organisational, developmental, growth and cultural change siical Unce inception in line with societal, legislative and governmental demands throughout the intervening 97 years. In more recent times and in tandem with this growth expansion and development, there has also grown a maleficent and damaging culture within the force where a culture of secrecy and lack of transparent function has emerged, whereby whistle-blowers of bad practice have been bullied and vilified for highlighting wrongdoing in the organisation. Following formal tribunals of enquiry and …

An Exploratory Study Of Jury Representativeness In Ireland, Josephine Mulherin

Dissertations

This research explores the representative nature of jury pools in Ireland and examines how the various stages involved in the jury selection process have the potential to compromise the achievement of a representative jury. Specifically this research addresses how the categories of those who failed to respond to their jury summons, those who were deemed ineligible or disqualified, and those who were excused as of right and for good reason shown, impact the achievement of a representative jury. The headings under which representativeness were examined included age, gender, occupation and nationality. The study was conducted using mixed methodologies and involved …

Ex-Prisoners’ Perspectives On Prison Drug Treatment In Ireland, John M. Duggan

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore ex-prisoners’ perspectives on prison drug treatment in Ireland. Prison drug treatment has increased across Europe over the last 20 years both in availability and modality. However, the delivery of drug treatment services in a prison setting is not without its challenges. The prison population is a multiply disadvantaged group, which experiences a disproportionate level of health inequality and social exclusion. Substance misuse is prevalent for a high proportion of prisoners. This research is based on seven semi-structured qualitative interviews with ex-prisoners who have had experience of prison drug treatment. The perspectives of …

Experiences And Perspectives Of Practitioners In Culturally Diverse Early Childhood Education And Care Centres In Ireland, Ana Janelidze

Dissertations

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) settings in Ireland have become increasingly multicultural. While policy documents and curricular guidelines for ECCE in Ireland emphasize the importance of addressing diversity and equality issues, implementation of culturally relevant practices may vary according to practitioners‟ skills, knowledge, perspectives and previous experiences with cultural diversity. The purpose of the study was to represent variety of perspectives that practitioners might hold regarding cultural diversity in ECCE. It represents an exploratory study of four practitioners‟ perspectives and experiences of cultural diversity in two multicultural ECCE settings in Dublin, Ireland. Phenomenological methodology was applied to the study …

Plural Policing: The Multifaceted World Of Irish State “Policing” Authorities, Thomas Talbot

Dissertations

aim of this research was to explore the rather undocumented world of the wider policing community acting in an official capacity on behalf of the Irish state in 2013 and to produce a comprehensive empirical mapping of these governance entities. This group was defined as those operating in a coercive manner at the most extreme end of the social control spectrum and the research therefore focused on those organisations actively prosecuting cases in the Irish courts.

A mixed method design was used to maximise both quantitative and qualitative information. As this mapping exercise was the first of its kind, a …

From Breadwinner To Breadmaker: The Experiences Of Stay- At- Home Fathers In Ireland Today, Eoin O'Brien

Dissertations

The experience and views of men who have become stay-at-home fathers has been an area of research that has, only in recent decades, become popular to study. This study highlights that there is a dearth of literature from an Irish perspective and that little is known about the topic.
Internationally, research has shown that there appears to be a strong link between masculine identity and the realm of paid employment. It also shows that fathers struggle in their attempts to balance being involved fathers while maintaining a foothold in paid employment.
The literature highlights that stay-at-home fathers begin to break …

The Free Preschool Year In Ireland: The Perspectives Of Early Childhood Educators And Policymakers, Martina Ozonyia

Dissertations

This thesis explores the introduction of the Free Preschool Year (FPY) in Ireland from the early childhood 'educators' and 'policymakers' perspectives. Under the new FPY initiative introduced in 2010, all children between the ages of 3.2 - 4.7 are offered free preschool hours for a period of one year prior to their entrance into primary school. This research identified the need to study the introduction of FPY as research into this topic to date has been limited. The purpose of this research was to understand the rationale behind this new initiative as well as exploring the issues of 'qualification requirements', …

An Exploration Of Stepfamily Experiences Of Young People In Ireland., Audrey Mcgee

Dissertations

This qualitative research study conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the stepfamily experiences of ten individuals, aged eighteen to twenty four years. The findings indicated that the stepfamily brought challenges and a range of benefits to the participants’ life experiences. The key difficulties pertained to issues regarding conflict, lack of communication and complex challenges. The cited benefits of stepfamily experiences included improved financial resources, an additional parental figure, a sense of stability, opportunities for personal growth and the gaining of additional siblings. One significant finding of the study was the positive enduring bonds that some individuals made with stepparents and stepsiblings. …

The Experiences And Views Of Lesbian Parents And Adult Children Of Lesbian Parents In Ireland: An Exploratory Study, Aoife Quille

Dissertations

This research focused on the experiences and views of lesbian parents and adult children of lesbian parents. The experiences of the members of lesbian-parented families determined the main areas that were explored. The lack of international and Irish research on the lived experiences of lesbian parents and their children prompted this investigation. The study was conducted using qualitative, semi-structured interviews. The sample consisted of three lesbian parents and two adult children of lesbian parents from two parent lesbian families. The findings highlighted the experiences of the parents and adult children from lesbian-parented families in reference to: the Irish legal context; …

Emerging Adulthood In Ireland: Is The Quarter-Life Crisis A Common Experience?, Mairead Murphy

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of young people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-eight in Ireland to establish the prevalence of what has become known in popular culture as the quarter-life crisis. This transitional period in a young person’s life is academically referred to as emerging adulthood and is a time of great change and personal growth. The study utilised a qualitative approach; individual interviews and focus groups were carried out with the identified research group. The findings of the study indicated that indeed, emerging adulthood is a challenging time, and for some, …

Legal Capacity In A Mental Health Context In Ireland A Critical Review And A Case For Reform, Andrew Guy

Dissertations

This thesis examines the issue of legal capacity in the context of existing and proposed mental health legislation in Ireland from a human rights perspective. Its primary focus is to access whether certain recent proposed reforms to Ireland’s existing mental health legislation will meet the relevant prevailing international human rights standards, namely the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the “CRPD”).

In particular, it includes a critical review of the proposed legislative reforms in the area of legal capacity in a mental health context. In summary, the main reforms are contained within the Scheme of Mental …

An Evaluation Of The Succession Law Changes Introduced By The Civil Partnership And Certain Rights And Obligations Of Cohabitants Act 2010, Niamh Dennehy

Dissertations

The Succession Act 1965 introduced a curb on a person‘s freedom of testation and gave protection to spouses and children on the death of a husband/wife, mother or father. As a result, certain relationships took precedence over others in the distribution of an estate, e.g. a surviving spouse‘s legal right share to a deceased spouse‘s estate is absolute. Since that legislation was enacted Irish society has changed greatly with a new variety and complexity of family structures. The provisions introduced by the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 are an attempt to keep pace with …

Union Citezenship: Impact, Influences And Challenges To Irish Immigration Laws., Ewaen Fred Ogieriakhi

Dissertations

The objective of this thesis firstly, is to attempt to explore the impact, influences and challenges that European Union citizenship rules and the adoption of the Citizens Rights Directive has on the right of Union citizens and their family members to reside in Ireland. The thesis examines the shift from “Market Citizenship”- from having adequate financial resources and sickness health insurance for the acquisition of right of residence to now recognizing right of residence for economically inactive persons.¹ The thesis assesses the impact of the relevant Treaty provisions on Free movement of Persons and the case laws of the …

Opting In And Staying In: Older Teenagers’ Decisions On Becoming And Remaining Involved In Youth Services In Dublin City., Kerri Martin

Dissertations

It is widely recognised in Ireland and internationally that the engagement of young people in the youth work process brings with it a range of positive benefits and outcomes, both for the young people involved and society in general. However, it has also been found that young people aged 15-19 participate less in youth services and therefore do not gain the associated benefits. This dissertation explores the perspectives of young people aged 15-19 who are engaged in youth services in Dublin City, in relation to their decisions to become and remain involved in youth services. The aim of this research …

Early School Leaving : An Exploration Of The Factors Contributing To School Non-Completion, Jennifer Mcgarr

Dissertations

This study is of an explorative nature, investigating early school leaving in Ireland today. Despite a range of interventions to address school non-completion, approximately 14% of students (as of 2007) continue to leave school without completing their education every year (Byrne & Smyth, 2010). A disproportionate amount of these young people come from disadvantaged backgrounds (Barnardos, 2006). Education is a powerful predicator of life chances and opportunities. Those who leave school with little or no formal education have less opportunities in later life, are more likely to be unemployed, have lower levels of general health and are at a greater …

Deference Under The Separation Of Powers: An Increasingly Acceptable Trait Amongst The Irish Judiciary?, Philip Smith

Dissertations

Deference refers to a certain respect or esteem which is due to a superior or an elder or a tendency of inferiors to acknowledge the legitimacy of superiors’ powers.It is a concept which is becoming increasingly popular in the works of legal commentator’s as of late. This is a direct result of the growing perception that it is a trait which is becoming synonymous with the Irish Judiciary.

The object of this research is to examine whether this accusation is true i.e. have our Superior Courts changed their mindset and adopted a more deferential stance than they used to exhibit. …

Deference Under The Separation Of Powers: An Increasingly Acceptable Trait Amongst The Irish Judiciary?, Philip Smith

Dissertations

Deference refers to a certain respect or esteem which is due to a superior or an elder or a tendency of inferiors to acknowledge the legitimacy of superiors’ powers.It is a concept which is becoming increasingly popular in the works of legal commentator’s as of late. This is a direct result of the growing perception that it is a trait which is becoming synonymous with the Irish Judiciary.

The object of this research is to examine whether this accusation is true i.e. have our Superior Courts changed their mindset and adopted a more deferential stance than they used to exhibit. …

Northern Ireland And The Irish Constitution: Pragmatism Or Principle?:The Mcgimpsey Case, Rory Mcgimpsey

Dissertations

The central theme of my thesis concerns the case of McGimpsey v. Ireland [1990] I.R. 110 and its wider significance. All discussion in the thesis can be traced back to this seminal case. On a wider level, the thesis discusses Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, tracing their history from their ideologically irredentist origins through to their amendment following the Good Friday Agreement, with its pluralist, inclusive re-definition of nationality. In essence, the thesis attempts to analyse the relationship between the two jurisdictions in Ireland, and how it evolved over time. I have endeavoured to explain how the 1937 …

Does Gender Impact On Career Progression In The Garda Síochána?, Goretti Sheridan

Dissertations

Little is generally known about the factors affecting the managerial advancement of women in police forces internationally. There is a dearth of research on women and policing in the Garda Síochána. Women are 50 years in policing in Ireland and would appear to have been totally restricted in their progression up until the last decade. The principle aim of this study is concerned with exploring the research question ‘Does Gender Impact on Career Progression in the Garda Síochána?’ It concentrates solely on policewomen. A comprehensive analysis of national and international literature is summarised in a literature review. An extensive examination …

What Do Young People Think Of The Gardaí?:An Examination Of Young Peoples Attitudes Toward And Experiences Of The Gardaí, Niamh Feeney

Dissertations

National strategies point toward the importance of young people being consulted in relation to services and policies that affect them. Interest in the attitudes of young people to police has increased in recent decades yet this has not yet been explored in Ireland. This thesis examines the attitudes of a sample of young people in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region North to the Gardaí as well as their experiences of contacts with members of An Garda Síochána. This is done mainly through the quantitative research method of a survey. One hundred and three young people aged 15-19 in four different …

Medical Negligence And Mrsa Claims:Is The Law Of Tort Efficient Enough?, Bridget Kelleher

Dissertations

In the last number of years, the Irish Health Service has come under major criticism. The emergence of Hospital Acquired Infections has sent the Health sector in to a state of disarray. The most common of these infections is Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) which has now become a term of everyday language. By 1960, the United Kingdom (U.K) discovered that methicillin could combat this staphylococcus (staph) aureus infections. However by 1961,the staph aureus strain had evolved and created a new resistance to methicillin which became known as MRSA. The law of medical negligence, has devised it's own rules to …

A Study Of Anti-Social Behaviour On Dublin Bus Routes, Kevin Scott

Dissertations

The area under investigation was the phenomenon of criminological behaviour occurring on Dublin Bus Routes. Research questions were based around: 1) what anti-social behaviour is occurring on buses, 2) when is this behaviour occurring, 3) who is perpetrating this behaviour and 4) how is anti-social behaviour on buses being tackled? Two problematic bus routes and one control route were selected based on geographic spread and the comparative ratio of criminal incidents involved (the 78A, 77 and the control case: 46A). A statistical analysis of existing information from Dublin Bus surrounding anti-social behaviour on these routes was conducted. The researcher then …

Organised Crime In Ireland: A Policy Analysis Of The Introduction Of Organised Crime To The Irish Statute Book, Elizabeth Davey

Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of the policy process employed in the introduction of organised crime to the Irish Statute Book. Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 creates, for the first time in Irish criminal law, specific organised crime offences. This thesis examines the different definitions of organised crime that have been proffered by various academics since the 1960s and highlights the difficulties that exist in coining an all-encompassing yet specific definition for the phenomenon. The methods by which Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 became law are also scrutinised. The views of various interest groups …

Risky Business: An Examination Of Probation Officers' Attitudes Towards Risk Assessment, Michelle Richardson

Dissertations

Over the past ten years, the concept of risk has moved to centre stage in criminological spheres. Risk assessment and the concern for effective management of offenders while safe guarding public safety has become a core issue for criminal justice agencies. This research focuses on risk assessment and probation practice in Ireland. In particular, the attitudes of practicing basic grade probation officers' working on adult community teams in Dublin are examined to gain insight into the complexities experienced by probation officers. Specifically, the research aims to highlight the consequences of adopting standardised risk tools on probation practice. The research discusses …

An Evaluation Of The Role Of Senior Traveller Training Centres, Maureen Foley

Dissertations

The study evaluates the role of the Senior Traveller Training Centres regarding further education. The centres provide basic compensatory education for Travellers aged 18 upwards. The aim of the centres is to provide Travellers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to successfully make the transition to work and adult life. It examines the rationale for the centres, the management structure, why people decide to go to the centres, and the curriculum. The study also highlights the difficulties the Traveller community have faced in the past and are still facing today in terms of equality of outcomes in education. Travellers …