Members

Professor Mary Horgan

Committee Chair

Consultant Physician in Cork University Hospital and Professor in the School of Medicine, University College Cork; President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and President of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland.

Bio

Mary Horgan the President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RPCI), Professor and former Dean of the School of Medicine, University College Cork, and Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at Cork University Hospital. She holds a degree in medicine from University College Dublin.

Mary has held several Ministerial appointments in a number of health service-related National Boards including the Health Products Regulatory Authority. She sat on the Governing Body of University College Cork. She was awarded the UCD Alumni award for health in 2019.

Professor Hannah McGee

Committee Vice-Chair

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at RCSI

Bio

Hannah McGee is Professor of Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. She holds a degree and PhD in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin, and a DSc on published work from the National University of Ireland.

In 1999, Hannah established the College-wide Research Ethics Committee at RCSI. She also sits on the Boards of several organisations such as Economic and Social Research Institute, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) and National Children's Research Centre.

Professor Anthony Staines

Committee Vice Chair

Professor of Health Systems, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, DCU

Bio

Anthony Staines is a Professor of Health Systems in the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health in Dublin City University. Anthony holds a degree in medicine from Trinity College Dublin, an MSc in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a PhD in Spatial Epidemiology from the University of Leeds.

His research interests include disability services, carers, health information and cancer. On top of his academic career, Anthony is Chair of St. Michael's House.

Professor Mary Donnelly

Committee Member

School of Law, UCC

Bio

Mary Donnelly is Professor of Law at the School of Law, University College Cork. Mary holds a degree in law from University College Dublin, an MA from University College Cork, an MLitt from Trinity College Dublin, and a PhD from University of Wales, Cardiff.

Her areas of interest include medical/capacity law & consumer protection. On top of her academic career, Mary is also Joint Chair of the HSE National Working Group to Review the National Consent Policy, Chair of the HSE Assisted Decision Making Steering Group and Chair of Ministerial Working Group to develop a draft Code of Practice on Advance Healthcare Directives.

Professor Tom Fahey

Committee Member

Department of General Practice, RCSI

Bio

Tom Fahey is Professor of General Practice in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and is the Head of HRB Centre for Primary Care Research & Department of General Practice. He holds a degree in medicine from University College Dublin and subsequently trained in General Practice and Public Health Medicine.

His areas of interests include applied clinical epidemiology or evidence-based medicine. Tom combines clinical work with teaching and research, and continues to see patients at Belgrave Clinic, Dublin. On top of his academic and clinical work, Tom sits on the Board of the Health Research Board.

Ms Sharon Foley

Committee Member

CEO Irish Hospice Foundation

Bio

Sharon Foley is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Hospice Foundation. Sharon holds a degree in nutrition, a MSc degree in nutrition research from Trinity College, Dublin and a MSc in Health Promotion from NUI, Galway.

Before joining the Irish Hospice Foundation, Sharon established a strategy management consultancy, was the first CEO of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and was Director of Health Promotion for the former East Coast Area Health Board and the former Midlands Health Board.

Ms Caoimhe Gleeson

Committee Member

National Programme Lead, Assisted Decision Making/National Specialist in Accessibility, HSE

Bio

Caoimhe Gleeson is the National Programme Manager in the Office of Human Rights and Equality Policy for the Health Services Executive which provides policy advice, guidance and training on key human rights issues and legislation. She holds a BA and an MA from NUI Galway.

Her areas of interest include consent, patient autonomy and bodily integrity, decision making capacity, service user and family engagement and transgender rights and access to healthcare. Caoimhe is a member of Interdepartmental Steering Group on the Decision Support Service and manages the HSE National Consent Advisory Group and the HSE Assisted Decision Making Steering Group.

Professor Andrew Green

Committee Member

Professor of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin

Bio

Andrew Green is a Professor of Medical Genetics at University College Dublin and is a consultant clinical geneticist in the Department of Clinical Genetics at Children’s Health Ireland. He holds a degree in medicine from University College Dublin and a PhD in medicine from University of Cambridge.

On top of his clinical and research interests, Andrew is Chair of the Irish National Advisory Committee on Bioethics. He previously was a member of the Irish Council for Bioethics, the Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction and was the Chair of the Research Ethics Committees in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and UCD.

Mr Gavin Lawler

Committee Member

Radiation Therapist and Clinical Trials Co-ordinator Team Leader for oncology clinical trials at Beacon Hospital, Dublin

Bio

Gavin Lawler is the Oncology/Radiation Therapy Research Specialist in charge of the Oncology Clinical Trials Research Unit at Beacon Hospital. He is study coordinator on a number of international radiotherapy clinical trials.
Gavin holds a degree in Radiation Therapy and an MSc in Advanced Practice Radiotherapy Treatment Planning from Trinity College Dublin.

Gavin’s areas of interest include patient education and management. He has worked closely with the Irish Cancer Society to develop patient information booklets on stereotactic treatment and revisions to the Radiotherapy booklet. Gavin is a member of the Beacon Hospital’s Research Ethics, Clinical Audit, Data Protection and Infection Prevention and Control Committees.

Professor Patrick Manning

Committee Member

Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Consultant, Bon Secours Hospital Dublin, St. Francis Hospital Mullingar, and Associate Professor Medicine at RCSI

Bio

Pat Manning is a Respiratory Consultant at Bon Secours Hospital Dublin and St Francis Hospital Mullingar. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) where he was an undergraduate medical student. Pat also holds postgraduate degrees in Medicine (MD) from UCD and a PhD (Physiology/Pharmacology) from McMaster University, Canada.

Pat recently stepped down as National Clinical Lead in Asthma (tasked with implementing the National Asthma Programme) with the Health Service Executive and Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. On top of his clinical and research interests, Pat currently sits on the Clinical and Research Ethics Committees at Bon Secours Healthcare.

Ms Grainne McGettrick

Committee Member

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland

Bio

Grainne McGettrick is the Research and Policy Manager at Acquired Brain Injury Ireland where she is responsible for the strategic development of the organisation’s research and policy agenda. She holds a degree in Social Science from University College Dublin and an MA from NUI Maynooth.

Grainne’s areas of interest include the fields of disability, older people and dementia. She has extensive expertise and knowledge in advocacy and campaigning within the community and voluntary sector.

Ms Dympna Moran

Committee Member

Retired; formerly of Dublin Northwest Area Partnership

Bio

Dympna Moran is retired with a longstanding career in Human Resources. Prior to retirement, she was Team Leader in the Dublin North West Partnership. There she worked on an initiative to encourage, advise and assist unemployed people to compete for paid employment by providing them with an opportunity to attain new skills through meaningful work experience, and interview and CV development support.

Dympna holds a Diploma in Personnel Management from DIT, a degree in business from University of Glamorgan Wales, and a PGDip in Conflict Resolution from Trinity College Dublin. Currently provides training P/T in Conflict Resolution and Competency Based Interview skills for INMO.

Professor Suzanne Norris

Committee Member

Consultant Hepatologist at St James’s Hospital; Professor in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, TCD

Bio

Suzanne Norris is a Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist and physician in internal medicine at St James's Hospital Dublin and Professor of Hepatology & Gastroenterology at Trinity College Dublin. Suzanne has a degree in medicine from University College Dublin, a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, and an MSc. in Medical Ethics and Healthcare Law from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.

On top of her clinical and research background, Suzanne is the co-founder and former chair of the Irish Hepatitis C Outcomes Research Network, a former member of the National Consultative Council for Hepatitis C and sits on the governing board of the European Association for the Study of the Liver.

Dr Donal O'Gorman

Committee Member

Director of the Centre for Preventive Medicine, DCU; Interim Director of the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology DCU

Bio

Donal O’Gorman is Interim Director of the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology at Dublin City University. He has a degree in Physical Education from University of Limerick, an MSc. in Exercise Physiology from Pennsylvania State University, US, and a PhD in Clinical Medicine from Trinity College Dublin.

His research focuses on human metabolism and he has been investigating the impact of physical inactivity and exercise on the risk and prevention of type 2 diabetes. On top of his academic career, Donal is a member of the European Space Agency Medical Committee and an Associate Editor of the journal Diabetologia.

Professor Shaun O’Keefe

Committee Member

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Galway University Hospitals

Bio

Shaun O’Keefe is a Consultant Physician and Geriatrician at Galway University Hospitals and holds an Honorary Personal Professor in Medicine at NUI Galway. Shaun holds a degree in medicine from University College Dublin.

Shaun’s areas of interest include nursing home standards, consent and mental capacity. On top of his medical and research career, Shaun previously was the Chair of the Clinical Research Ethics Committee at University Hospitals Galway and currently co-Chairs the HSE Advisory Group on implementing the National Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation Policy and the HSE Working Group on Implementing the Assisted Decision making (Capacity) Act.

Dr Jean Saunders

Committee Member

Director CSCS (Claddagh Statistical Consultancy Services) Ltd, Vice-Chair UHL Group REC, Limerick & Adviser Science & Engineering Faculty REC, University of Limerick

Bio

Jean Saunders is a Consultant Statistician and the Director of Claddagh Statistical Consultancy Services Ltd which provides statistical support and research methodology advice to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, academia together with Health Services. Jean holds a degree in Mathematics& Statistics from the University of London, a BA in Computing, Technology and Statistics from the Open University, an MSc. in Applied Statistics from the Sheffield Hallam University and a PhD in Medical Statistics from the University of Bradford.

Jean is also the Vice Chair of the University Hospitals Limerick REC, advises the Science & Engineering Faculty REC, UL, and until recently was a Non-Executive Board Member for IPPOSI (Irish Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry).

Professor Orla Sheils

Committee Member

Dean of The Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor of Molecular Diagnostics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin

Bio

Orla Sheils is Professor of Molecular Diagnostics and the Dean of Health Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Orla holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc in Medical Ethics and Law from Kings College London.

Orla’s areas of interest include the causes and molecular basis of the development of disease, and the development novel molecular diagnostics. On top of her academic career, Orla previously was the Chair of the TCD Research Ethics Policy Group and is currently a member of the St James’s Hospital / Tallaght Research Ethics Committee. She is also a Board Member of the European Institute of Women's Health.

Dr Akke Vellinga

Committee Member

Epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, NUI Galway; Chair of the ICGP Research Ethics Committee

Bio

Akke Vellinga is an epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer at NUI Galway. She holds an MSc in Biology, a Master in Epidemiology and a PhD in Medicine. Her experience in quantitative and qualitative methods, including complex statistical modelling, find their application in her research interests which include infections, antibiotic prescribing and resistance, in the community as well as in secondary care. Akke is Chair of the ICGP Research Ethics. Her profile can be viewed at ORCID 0000-0002-6583-4300.

Mr John Woods

Committee Member

Data Protection Officer, St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services, St. Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin

Bio

John Woods is the Data Protection Officer at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. John has had an extensive career in information systems and data protection. John has a degree in Business with Information Systems Management from the Institute of Public Administration and an MSc in Information Technology Management from the Institute of Technology, Tallaght.

John’s interests include data protection, privacy by design, and information governance. John also sits on the Hospital’s Health Research Ethics Committee and is a member of the Information Governance Framework Hospital Committee.

Members

Professor Mary Horgan

Professor Hannah McGee

Professor Anthony Staines

Professor Mary Donnelly

Professor Tom Fahey

Ms Sharon Foley

Ms Caoimhe Gleeson

Professor Andrew Green

Mr Gavin Lawler

Professor Patrick Manning

Ms Grainne McGettrick

Ms Dympna Moran

Professor Suzanne Norris

Dr Donal O'Gorman

Professor Shaun O’Keefe

Dr Jean Saunders

Professor Orla Sheils

Dr Akke Vellinga

Mr John Woods

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