Niall O'Connor's Avatar

Niall O'Connor

@noconnor90

Senior Lecturer, Essex Law School, researching fundamental (social) rights and their relationship to economic freedoms. Currently working as part of the EU-CIEMBLY project on intersectionality in citizens' assemblies: https://www.eu-ciembly.eu/en/home

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25.11.2024
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Latest posts by Niall O'Connor @noconnor90

Was really great to welcome the participants to our Colchester citizens' assembly, where we discussed the local housing context and the issues faced by residents. The next step is to think about solutions!

28.02.2026 20:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Weโ€™re diving deep into solutions at the #ColchesterCitizensAssembly! ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ
Todayโ€™s workshops focus on Empathy Mapping, stepping directly into the shoes of our community to truly understand their lived experiences and tackle the real issues head-on.

28.02.2026 14:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Job profile

Come work with us on the @eu-ciembly.bsky.social project!

vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrec...

10.02.2026 15:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Great contributions so far at our EU-CIEMBLY project policy-maker forum in Brussels. The Essex Law School team presented on the project's framework for intersectionality in citizens' assemblie... Great contributions so far at our EU-CIEMBLY project policy-maker forum in Brussels. The Essex Law School team presented on the project's framework for intersectionality in citizens' assemblies, inclu...

Back in Brussels for our @eu-ciembly.bsky.social policy-maker forum, discussion how intersectionality can influence EU policy and practice:

www.linkedin.com/posts/niall-...

10.02.2026 11:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
River in Graz

River in Graz

Poster for Facing Inequalities conference

Poster for Facing Inequalities conference

Conference programme

Conference programme

Spent a lovely day in a very sunny Graz presenting the @eu-ciembly.bsky.social project's normative, analytical, and operational dimensions for incorporating intersectionality into the design of citizens' assemblies. Many thanks to the organisers of the Facing Inequalities conference for hosting!

06.11.2025 21:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Democratic Participation

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ Term of the Week: Democratic Participation
Explore all terms in our glossary:
๐Ÿ‘‰ www.eu-ciembly.eu/en/glossary/...

---GR TEXT---
๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ ฮŒฯฮฟฯ‚ ฯ„ฮทฯ‚ ฮ•ฮฒฮดฮฟฮผฮฌฮดฮฑฯ‚: ฮ”ฮทฮผฮฟฮบฯฮฑฯ„ฮนฮบฮฎ ฮฃฯ…ฮผฮผฮตฯ„ฮฟฯ‡ฮฎ
ฮ•ฮพฮตฯฮตฯ…ฮฝฮฎฯƒฯ„ฮต ฯŒฮปฮฟฯ…ฯ‚ ฯ„ฮฟฯ…ฯ‚ ฯŒฯฮฟฯ…ฯ‚ ฯƒฯ„ฮฟ ฮณฮปฯ‰ฯƒฯƒฮฌฯฮน ฮผฮฑฯ‚

#democratic #participation #glossaryterms #euciembly #horizoneu

15.10.2025 09:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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On 3rd October, the @universityofessex.bsky.social team took part in Freshersโ€™ Fair, welcoming new and returning students to the Colchester campus. We asked: What does intersectionality or equality mean to you? The responses reflected a rich diversity and highlighted how vital these concepts are.

21.10.2025 07:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Seminar on โ€œIntersectionality in Public Life: Whatโ€™s Law Got To Do With It?โ€

Join us in Coimbra or online for this seminar on intersectional equality (law) in public life. I look forward to discussing intersectionality in the private sphere, and to catching up with colleagues from the @eu-ciembly.bsky.social project: www.uc.pt/en/fduc/univ...

23.10.2025 16:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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All set to welcome students to the Essex Freshers' Fair and to talk about the EU-CIEMBLY project with the student community. Watch this space for more news about our planned pilot citizens' as... All set to welcome students to the Essex Freshers' Fair and to talk about the EU-CIEMBLY project with the student community. Watch this space for more news about our planned pilot citizens' assembly i...

Looking forward to engaging with the Essex student comminity at today's Freshers' Fair. Talking all things intersectionality and citizens' assemblies in the run up to our local pilot in Colchester next year!

03.10.2025 10:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Challenging to condense the book's arguments into 30 second soundbites while also appearing on camera but useful to think about presenting research in new ways.

15.09.2025 17:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Business Freedoms and Fundamental Rights in European Union Law Abstract. The recognition of the freedom to conduct a business as a fundamental right within European Union law has reignited debate as to the proper place

My video focuses on my 2024 monograph exploring the social dimensions of the freedom to conduct a business, which remains open access: academic.oup.com/book/58854

15.09.2025 17:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Filming the Open Access Research series | Blog | University of Essex The Open Access team at the University of Essex reflect on the process of filming a series of Open Access videos, with authors highlighting the depth and breadth of their research.

Really enjoyed taking part in the filming of this series on open access publishing at Essex: www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2...

15.09.2025 17:42 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@akaratzia.bsky.social

05.09.2025 10:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Glossary

What to learn more about intersectionality and citizens' assemblies? Check out the newly launched @eu-ciembly.bsky.social glossary covering the key concepts governing our integration of intersectional equality, inclusion, and deliberation in citizens' assembly design: www.eu-ciembly.eu/en/glossary

05.09.2025 10:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms 8th edition

The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms 8th edition

๐Ÿ“–OUP ( @oxfordunipress.bsky.social) has published the eighth edition of 'The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms' by @cbarnard.bsky.social (Trinity) providing an updated critical and thorough analysis of the key principles of the substantive law of the EU:

๐Ÿ”—https://bit.ly/4nLgmvl

14.07.2025 15:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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What a beautiful day to talk about democracy! Getting ready for our experts' workshop on Designing Intersectional Citizens' Assemblies for the @eu-ciembly.bsky.social project! @noconnor90.bsky.social

09.07.2025 07:31 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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And campus never disappoints in the sunshine!

09.07.2025 07:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@eu-ciembly.bsky.social

09.07.2025 07:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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All ready to go for today's EU-CIEMBLY workshop at Essex Law School where we will be talking about intersectionality in citizen's assemblies with the project team and guest speakers.

09.07.2025 07:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Group of academics photographed attending workshop on EU law in a volatile and changing world.

Group of academics photographed attending workshop on EU law in a volatile and changing world.

Thanks again to Ilias and Sanna for organising such a great workshop on EU law in a volatile and uncertain world. Looking forward to seeing the outcome of all this great research!

27.06.2025 08:58 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Business Freedoms and Fundamental Rights in European Union Law Abstract. The recognition of the freedom to conduct a business as a fundamental right within European Union law has reignited debate as to the proper place

The book can also be accessed directly via the OUP website: academic.oup.com/book/58854

25.06.2025 15:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The University of Essexโ€™ Open Access fund exists to give Essex researchers the ability to reach the widest possible readership. | University of Essex Library Services The University of Essexโ€™ Open Access fund exists to give Essex researchers the ability to reach the widest possible readership. The Libraryโ€™s Open Essex collection demonstrates the range of publicatio...

Thanks to the Essex University Open Access Fund, my book Business Freedoms and Fundamental Rights in European Union Law can be enjoyed for free! www.linkedin.com/posts/univer...

25.06.2025 15:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@akaratzia.bsky.social

25.06.2025 14:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Workshop programme page 1.

Workshop programme page 1.

Workshop programme page 2.

Workshop programme page 2.

First slide of presentation titled a new paradigm for intersectionality in citizens' assemblies.

First slide of presentation titled a new paradigm for intersectionality in citizens' assemblies.

Looking forward to this workshop tomorrow at City Law School on the topic of EU Law for a Volatile and Uncertain World, and to meeting new colleagues. I will be discussing all things intersectionality and citizens' assemblies, including the deficiencies within the existing EU equality law framework.

25.06.2025 14:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@akaratzia.bsky.social

05.06.2025 18:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Nice to see that the EU-CIEMBY project, and the value of intersectional inclusiveness in democratic participation and deliberation, are already gaining recognition among policy-makers. Watch this space for more news on our planned citizens' assembly pilot in Cyprus next year.๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

05.06.2025 18:11 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
CURIA - Documents

CJEU, equality law

Due on July 10th: Advocate-General's opinion on whether firing an employee for leaving the Catholic church breaches EU anti-discrimination law - curia.europa.eu/juris/docume...

05.06.2025 08:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
Preview
Business Freedoms and Fundamental Rights in European Union Law Abstract. The recognition of the freedom to conduct a business as a fundamental right within European Union law has reignited debate as to the proper place

The book is open access and the online version can be found here: academic.oup.com/book/58854

04.06.2025 15:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

In particular, the right to work acts as a bridge between an economic (freedoms) and a social (rights) conception of freedom of contract as a component of wider business freedoms.

04.06.2025 15:18 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I argue that there are internal and external social dimensions to the freedom to conduct a business, which help us to understand its relationship to fundamental social rights, a relationship that need not be viewed as inherently antagonistic.

04.06.2025 15:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0