European Human Rights Law

This course examines the operation of the European Convention of Human Rights at both European and national
level. The first part of the module will examine how a human rights complaint may be launched under the
European Convention on Human Rights in Strasbourg. It also comprises a detailed and critical examination of
selected provisions of the Convention as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights and the former
European Commission of Human Rights. This will include an analysis of the provisions on freedom of expression
and respect for private and family life.
The second part of the module will consider the way in which the
Convention impacts on national law. In particular, the module will compare and contrast the methods of
implementation applied in Ireland and in the United Kingdom. The course will also consider the political,
social and constitutional challenges that are involved in giving legal force to international rights norms
in the domestic system.