The Irish Centre for European Law (“ICEL”) is pleased to announce that it will host its Annual Public Procurement Law Conference this year on Tuesday 17 November 2026 from 9.30am to 5.15pm at The Inn of Court, Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast. A networking reception will be hosted from 5.15-6pm.

Tickets can be purchased here.

This year’s Conference will be themed “Public Procurement Law in Northern Ireland: A Unique Jurisdiction?’: UK Reform, EU Legacy and Cross-Border Realities.

Although public procurement in Northern Ireland is now primarily governed by UK domestic legislation and policy, EU procurement law remains relevant in a number of important ways — particularly for legacy procurements, interpretation of EU-derived rules, cross-border activity, EU-funded projects, public law principles, subsidy control and the broader legal environment created by the Windsor Framework. One year into the new regime of the Procurement Act 2023, the Irish Centre for European Law takes stock of the law and practice of Public Procurement in Northern Ireland and considers to what extent European Union public procurement law remains relevant.

The Conference will also examine the particular challenges facing procurement professionals across the island of Ireland operating cross-border public procurements. The Conference aims to facilitate North-South collaboration through networking opportunities throughout the event, including structured discussion sessions and a closing reception. These activities are intended to support the development of long-term professional relationships and future collaborative initiatives between stakeholders from both jurisdictions. Participants will be invited to consider the establishment of a Cross Border Procurement Network following the Conference. Feedback from this network will be obtained on a bi-annual basis to ensure that each year’s conference remains relevant and identifies the practical and legal challenges facing stakeholders and attendees of the conference on a yearly basis.

If you have any queries about this Conference, please email icel@tcd.ie.

There are six CPD points available for attendance.

Consider becoming an ICEL member to avail of significant discounts for this and future ICEL conferences. Details are available here.