On Friday 23 October, Mr Justice O'Donnell, Chief Justice, and Mr Justice Barniville, President of the High Court, received a visiting delegation of six Ukrainian judges, led by Mr Stanislav Kravchenko, President of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.  The meeting was part of a wider study visit supported by Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, and the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM).  Over their week in Ireland, the delegation visited courts in Belfast and Dublin, attended conferences at Queen's University Belfast and Dublin City University, and met with members of the Irish and Northern Irish judiciary, including the co-patrons of IRLI, Dame Siobhán Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, and Chief Justice O'Donnell.   

On Thursday 22 October, Chief Justice O'Donnell attended an event hosted by IRLI to coincide with the study visit with support from the Irish Presidency of the EU, The Council of Elders, and the Department of Foreign Affairs titled "What's Law Got to Do with It?".  Following a keynote address from Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Council of Elders member, and an address from Gerard Keown of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the event centred on a panel discussion moderated by Dr Andrew Forde.  Part of the panel discussing present challenges facing the international legal order, the rise of populism, and the urgent need to defend human rights and international accountability were Aonghus Kelly, International Human Rights Lawyer, Linda Kasonde, Zambian lawyer and rule of law advocate, and Darragh Mackin, solicitor and director of Phoenix Law.   

Seán McHale, IRLI; Mary Robinson; Marie McCloskey, IRLI; Chief Justice O'Donnell