Defining a crime. Bunreacht na h'Eireann and the criminal law. Criminal liability - actus reus, mens rea, capacity, defences (self defence, Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006, duress) and provocation. Homicide and Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, 1997. . Offences against property. Public Order Offences. Sentencing objectives and options, restorative justice, spent convictions. (Domains 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.9, 5.1, 5.14, 5.15) Offences. Sentencing objectives and options, restorative justice, spent convictions.

Rights of the child in conflict with the law and non-offending children at risk. The welfare vs justice debate. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Rules and Riyadh Guidelines. The Irish Youth Justice Service and Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027. Children Act 2001 (as amended). Special care orders. The Family Welfare Conference. The Garda Diversion Programme and Garda Diversion projects emergence of Youth Justice Workers. Treatment of child suspects in gardai stations. Children Court and child sanctions. Youth Probation service. Detention of children and social care professionals, Oberstown. (Domains: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2.6, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.14, 5.15).

The adversarial system and preparation for court. Therapeutic jurisprudence and the 'vulnerable' party, witness, victim. The court hearing: order of witnesses, examination-in-chief, cross The adversarial system and preparation for court. Therapeutic jurisprudence and the 'vulnerable' party, witness, victim. The court hearing: order of witnesses, examination-in-chief, cross examination, re-examination. Evidence - relevance and hearsay and exceptions to evidentiary rules. Opinion evidence and the expert witness.Competence and compellability of witnesses. The professional witness and court proceedings.Reform of Family Law, access to justice, voice of the child . (Domains: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.9, 1.12, 1.15, 1.16, 2.6, 2.9, 2.12, 5.1, 5.2)

Types of rights - civil&political; socio-economic; cultural and collective. Dualism and article 29 of the Constitution. Spheres of enforcement of rights in Ireland: Constitutional protection of fundamental rights and the implied rights doctrine; European Community/Union law; International law including the European Convention on Human Rights; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Types of rights – civil & political; socio-economic; cultural and collective. Dualism and article 29 of the Constitution. Spheres of enforcement of rights in Ireland: Constitutional protection of fundamental rights and the implied rights doctrine; European Community/Union law; International law including the European Convention on Human Rights; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Limitations on rights, proportionality and balancing rights. Human Rights and Irish legislation - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, European Convention on Human Rights Act, 2003. A HRBA in health and social care. Access to justice and law reform. (Domains: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.6, 3.1, 3.6, 3.7, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.14, 5.15).