The Chairperson of DHR Communications, Peter Cassells, was recently announced as the first Executive Director of the new Kennedy Centre for Conflict Intervention at NUI Maynooth. The Centre will open in 2011 and is being established in honour of the late Senator Edward Kennedy.
The Centre – the first of its kind in Ireland – will specialise in conflict resolution, mediation, leadership and civic engagement. It will be university-based, but will have a strong focus on engaging with key organisations – both national and international – that are active in these fields.
Initially, it will focus on peace-keeping and peace-making (for example, Northern Ireland; Ireland’s role in peacemaking; conflict resolution in the developing world), mediation, community conflict intervention and alternative dispute resolution (covering family law; commercial law, and workplace dispute resolution).
The Taoiseach announced the establishment of the Centre in recent weeks, saying it was further acknowledgement of Senator Kennedy’s immense commitment to Ireland, in particular his role in helping to bring about peace in Northern Ireland.
Our Chairperson, Peter, is highly experienced in conflict intervention and dispute resolution. Further details of his experience in these areas – and his career to date – are available here.
Dermot Ryan, Director of DHR Communications, has been appointed to the Lord Mayor’s Commission on Employment.
The Lord Mayor, Cllr. Emer Costello, established the Commission on Employment to examine how Dublin City Council and other public, private and NGO agencies can help promote economic renewal and employment growth in Dublin.
The Commission will identify and make recommendations for actions in the key areas of:
- Unemployment and employment.
- Business, entrepreneurship and finance.
- Education, skills and training.
- Volunteering and the social economy.
The Commission is currently inviting individuals and organisations to propose ideas and actions in relation to these key areas. Submissions (ideally no more than five pages in length) should be made to the Lord Mayor’s Office, Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 or by email to lmce@dublincity.ie. Further information is available on www.dublincity.ie or by telephoning 01-2225233. The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday, 4th December 2009.
In addition to his work with DHR Communications, Dermot Ryan is Chairperson of SWIC LEC – the South West Inner City Local Employment Centre – placing him in an ideal position to contribute to the work of the Commission on Employment.
Full details of the work of the Commission on Employment are available here.
DHR Director Dermot Ryan has been appointed to the Economic Development, Planning and European Affairs Strategic Policy Committee of Dublin City Council. This committee prepares and debates policy alternatives for economic and development affairs for the City Council. Dermot will represent the South West Inner City Local Employment Centre (SWIC LEC) on the Committee. He is the Chairperson of SWIC LEC in a voluntary capacity.
Further info on Dublin City Council’s Strategic Policy Committee is available here.
