At the CLC Opening Ceremonies
17 August 2009
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Mary Robinson
Both historic and modern-day ties between Canada and Ireland dominated the discourse at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2009 Canadian Legal Conference in Dublin on Sunday. The event, held in the Irish city’s historic National Concert Hall, saw a host of legal luminaries address a capacity audience on subjects such as the rule of law, professional responsibility and access to justice.
- Appearing via video to mark her ninth consecutive address to the CLC, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin praised the work of the CBA in defending judges and speaking out to support judicial independence.
- Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson spoke about the need for constant dialogue among all justice system stakeholders, including the government and the CBA, to improve the legal system for Canadians.
- Bringing greetings from the CBA’s Irish hosts, Law Society of Ireland President John Shaw and Bar Council of Ireland President Michael Collins spoke about the numerous learning and collegiality opportunities for lawyers of both nations that this conference afforded.
- Canadian Ambassador to Ireland Patrick Binns discussed the connections between Ireland and Canada and emphasized that modern business and investment relationships between the two countries mirror and build upon those of the past.
- CBA President Guy Joubert’s presidential address described the historic importance of ancient Irish monks who helped safeguard wisdom during the Dark Ages, and drew parallels with the the legal profession’s role as stewards of legal knowledge and guardians of the rule of law for future generations.
- And keynote speaker Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, placed all of the opening plenary’s themes in the context of the history of Ireland and the ongoing quest for human rights.
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