The Irish Centre for European Law is an educational charity that seeks to promote knowledge, understanding and the good practice of EU law and European Human Rights law across the island of Ireland. It is based at Trinity College Dublin and is operated on a not-for-profit basis.

The Centre was founded in 1988 by Dr Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Guided by an expert Board, the Centre produces conferences, seminars, courses and publications of quality in specialised fields of European law.

Its members comprise solicitors, barristers, academics, representatives from industry, the public sector and non-governmental organisations.

The Centre's Patron is HE Mary Robinson SC.

The Centre's President is The Hon Mr Justice Anthony M Collins, a member of the Irish Court of Appeal and former Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The Centre's Executive Director is Michelle Drury BL.

Governance

Marking its first 30 years, the Centre embarked upon a significant restructuring of its governance to: meet the growing needs for EU and European human rights law across the island of Ireland; better include the members in the life and work of the Centre; and, promote best practice in modern corporate and charities governance.

The members of the Centre adopted a new Constitution in September 2021, which was revised in September 2022.

Following this and an island-wide advertising process (which continues for subsequently appointed Board members), a new Board was appointed from across the professions and academia, together with an Advisory Council and new Committees. This Board is refreshed annually by rotation, term limits and public advertising.

The membership of the Board can be found here. The Patron and Vice-Presidents of the Centre do not play a governance role, but are members of the Advisory Council. The full membership of the Advisory Council and the Centre's committees can be found here.

The responsibilities of the Board and the Centre's Officers are set out in the Constitution and in its Code of Conduct.

The Advisory Council's Terms of Reference are set out in Part XVIII of the Constitution.

The Board delegates powers and tasks to, and is advised by, a number of Committees:

• Terms of Reference for the Audit & Governance Committee, which is an independent standing committee reviewing finances and governance, are set out in Article 68 of the Constitution and in Supplemental Terms of Reference.
• Terms of Reference for other standing Committees are as follows: the Members' Committee; and, the Joint Nomination, Employment & Remuneration Committee.
• Terms of Reference for the annual Committees currently established by the Board are as follows: the Officers' Committee; the Northern Ireland Committee; the Presidency Committee; and, the Annual Review Committee.

The Board has also adopted the following: a Code of Conduct; a Conflict of Interest Policy; and, a Complaints Policy. Other, internal, policies (including the Reserves Policy, the Reserves Policy Implementation Plan, the Gender Policy, GDPR/Privacy Policy and Staff Policies and Procedures) are available to members on request.

The Centre's web entry on the Charities Regulator's register contains, inter alia, its statement of compliance with the Charities Governance Code and its up-to-date financial accounts.