IILA chairperson Thomas Coughlan was joined at the event by IACBA chairperson Michael Conlon SC, with the two associations now planning to host a joint conference in 2024.

The IILA was launched in 2021 at an event addressed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and has hosted events with guest speakers including Ms Justice Tara Burns, Mr Justice Charles Meenan and Ms Justice Siobhán Stack.

Cindy Carroll, deputy chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, is to address IILA members at a training session in December and connections with other agencies and stake-holders is ongoing.

The first session of the IILA conference was addressed by Sarah-Jane Hillery BL on “Constitutional Rights and the Non-Citizen Child” and Michel Conlon SC on “Duties of Cooperation in International Protection Law”.

This was followed by an address by Mary Henderson, solicitor with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, on “Irish Naturalisation Updates: Recent Legislative and Practice Changes”; Maria Hennessy, assistant protection officer with UNHCR Ireland, on “Addressing Statelessness in Ireland”; and Catherine Cosgrave, managing solicitor with the Immigrant Council of Ireland, on “Access to Citizenship and Addressing Statelessness in Childhood”.

After a lively Q&A session, delegates retired to the Vanilla Bar at the Law Society for refreshments and a social gathering.

Membership of the IILA is open to fully-qualified immigration solicitors who hold practising certificates issued by the Law Society of Ireland working for both applicants and the State.

Associate membership is open to trainee solicitors, legal executives and staff working under the supervision of a solicitor member of the association.

Applications for membership can be made by applying through the IILA website or by email to info@iila.ie.