5 Nations – October 31, 2025
Capacity and Decision-Making Challenges
Hosted by Safeguarding Ireland
Friday, October 31, 10.30am-12.30pm
THEME, SPEAKERS and PRESENTATIONS
‘Capacity and Decision-Making Challenges’
Capacity and Decision-Making, An Irish Paradigm Shift: Martina Larkin (Sage Advocacy)
Martina Larkin is the Legal Support Unit Lead for Sage Advocacy. Prior to joining Sage Advocacy, Martina had worked in a number of executive and leadership positions in the health and social care sector, including as the CEO of the Meath Foundation and the Head of Legal and Compliance with Cheshire Ireland. She was also a member of the Decision Support Service’s panel of Decision Making Representatives and Visitors. Martina has a particular interest and experience in human rights and social justice and has focused her career to date in advancing those causes. View her PRESENTATION here.
Recent Innovations in Recognising the Will of a Person: Professor Wayne Martin (University of Essex)
Wayne Martin is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Autonomy Project at the University of Essex, where he is also affiliated with the Essex Human Rights Centre. His research draws on resources from philosophy and a variety of other disciplines to investigate the ideal of self-determination (‘autonomy’), particularly in the context of disability and in care settings. He is currently working on a book on inclusive legal agency; working title: Reinventing the Will. Further information is available on the Autonomy Project website: http://autonomy.essex.ac.uk. View his PRESENTATION here.
Repurposing mental health and mental capacity law: Professor Jill Stavert (Edinburgh Napier University).
Jill is Professor of Mental Health and Capacity Law and lead of the Centre for Mental Health Practice Policy and Law Research at Edinburgh Napier University. Her areas of research and expertise are mental health and capacity law, related international, European and national human rights and associated law and policy reform. She was a member of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review (Scott Review) (2019-2022) and before that she was involved in aspects of the Scottish Government review of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act and an expert adviser to the Independent Review of Learning Disability and Autism in the Mental Health Act. She currently participates in the Scottish Government mental health and capacity law reform programme, which is currently focusing on adults with incapacity law reform. View her PRESENTATION here.
CO-CHAIRS
- Alex Davidson, Independent Chair, Orkney Public Protection Committee
- Patricia Rickard-Clarke, Chair, Safeguarding Ireland.
Upcoming dates 2026
Archived dates 2025
Archived dates 2024
With any queries, please email info@safeguardingireland.org