Political and Public Engagement Team

My name is Róisín and I joined the EPIC team in February 2025 as Research and Policy Manager.

My role involves leading EPIC’s research and policy work, helping to ensure the voices and experiences of children and young people with care experience are at the heart of policy development and advocacy. I work closely with the team to develop evidence-based policy positions, contribute to national consultations, and ensure EPIC’s research informs our campaigns and engagement with decision-makers.

Before joining the EPIC team, I spent over 20 years working in advocacy, research, legislative drafting, policy development, campaigning, and as a public interest lawyer. I have practised as a barrister, specialising in child law, criminal law, youth justice, child protection and care, asylum and immigration, disability, equality and human rights law. I’ve also held senior legal and policy roles across the NGO and public sectors, including with the Children’s Rights Alliance, Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), Amnesty International, the Children’s Mental Health Coalition, and Disability Legal Resource. I’ve worked in senior policy and legislative roles with the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, the Irish Youth Justice Service, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and the Department of Justice. In 2024, I was appointed as an external expert in child rights by the European Commission under the CERV programme and I have also worked independently as a legal and policy consultant.

My qualifications include a BA in Law and European Studies from the University of Limerick, an EMA in Human Rights and Democratisation from the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice and a Barrister-at -Law degree from the Kings Inns in Dublin.