Ruth Davis BL

Ruth is a practicing barrister at the Law Library in Dublin since 2018.  Ruth has gained extensive experience in legal drafting, research, advice, advocacy and civil litigation in a wide variety of areas including personal injury, medical negligence, data protection, judicial review, commercial and chancery.

Ruth has a BSc and PhD in microbiology and prior to joining the Law Library, she worked for more than 20 years at senior management level in the Irish Higher Education sector spanning a wide range of strategic and operational portfolios.  She has proven leadership ability and is highly experienced in delivering public sector projects and in managing multiple stakeholder relationships (academic, professional and government).

Ruth was recently appointed by the Minister for Health as a member of the National Research Ethics Committee for Medical Devices (NREC-MD).

• Elizabeth O’Connor v Health Service Executive [2020] IEHC 551 – second renewal of summons – Ruth researched and prepared the first draft of the legal submissions to the High Court on behalf of the Defendant which was reviewed by Junior Counsel and settled by Senior Counsel
• Andrew Mangan (A Person Of Unsound Mind Not So Found) Suing By His Mother And Next Friend, Lorraine Mangan v Julian Dockery, Brian Denham and The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, Trading as Mount Carmel Hospital [2020] IESC 67; [2020] 11 I.C.L.M.D. 66 – Ruth prepared the first draft of the submissions to the Supreme Court on behalf of the Third Defendant-Respondent which were reviewed by Junior Counsel and subsequently settled without change by Senior Counsel.
• Turner v the Curragh Racecourse, the Curragh Racecourse Hospitality Limited, Tracey Collins and Sheena Collins [2020] IEHC 76 – Ruth researched and prepared the first draft of the legal submissions to the High Court on behalf of the first and second defendants which was reviewed by Junior Counsel and settled by Senior Counsel.

Ruth provides independent advice to the Health Service Executive on the issue of consent for health research purposes and is a member of their working group developing an updated research consent policy.  She has also worked with the Health Research Board to develop lay-oriented guidance for health researchers on GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and the Health Research Regulations.

Member of the National Research Ethics Committee – Medical Devices (NREC-MD)

Ruth is an experienced advocate on behalf of individuals living with rare diseases.  She is a member of the Research Committee of Cystinosis Ireland, a highly active, research focused, ultra rare disease patient organisation.

Member of Board of Directors, North Monastery Language Institute (NMLI); November 2008 – March 2011, a charity for teaching European languages to secondary school children (at the North Monastery Secondary School) and English language teaching to foreign teachers and other professionals.

Ruth also provides an independent consultancy service in the areas of Higher Education and Health Research management, funding and policy.