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Professor Mark Bell

Regius Professor of Law (Law)
HOUSE 39, COLLEGE
      
Profile Photo

Professor Mark Bell

Regius Professor of Law (Law)
HOUSE 39, COLLEGE

 bellm1@tcd.ie

 3531896 4883


Mark Bell is Regius Professor of Laws (a Chair founded in 1668) and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. After undergraduate studies at the University of Ulster, Mark completed a PhD at the European University Institute. He worked at the University of Leicester 1999-2014, including being Head of the School of Law 2011-2014. After joining Trinity in 2015, he was Head of the School of Law 2018-2021 and he is currently Director of Research in Law. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Mark is a member of: the Advisory Board of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law; the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Discrimination and the Law; and the Advisory Board of the University of Bergen project 'Life and Work in Balance: Legal Responses to Working Life in Times of Change and Crisis'. Previously, he was a member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission's Future of Equality Law Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors of the Irish Centre for European Law, and the European Commission's Network of Legal Experts on Non-Discrimination. Mark has published extensively on Anti-Discrimination Law and Labour/Employment Law, particularly in relation to EU Law. He is the author of three monographs: Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law: An Ethical Perspective on Work (OUP 2023); Racism and Equality in the European Union (OUP 2009); Anti-Discrimination Law and the European Union (OUP 2002). He is also co-editor of International and European Labour Law: A Commentary (Nomos 2018) and Cases, Materials and Text on National, Supranational and International Non-Discrimination Law (Hart Publishing 2007). His current research focuses on the relationship between religion and EU law. See further: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Bell21
  Employment and Labour Law   employment equality law   Equality law   eu employment law   eu equality law   labour migration   precarious work
Project Title
 The Employment Equality Directive and Supporting People with Psychosocial Disabilities in the Workplace
From
May 2016
To
November 2016
Summary
This project produced a report for the European Commission, jointly authored with Professor Lisa Waddington, Maastricht University. It examined the role that EU Law, specifically Directive 2000/78, plays in providing support in the labour market for those who experience mental health problems amounting to a psychosocial disability. It examined the definition of disability found in EU and national law, and the extent to which the concept of reasonable accommodation has been applied to persons with psychosocial disability. It also explored the role playing by stigma in creating barriers for those with mental health problems and evidence of measures adopted by Member States to combat this phenomenon: http://www.equalitylaw.eu/downloads/3966-the-employment-equality-directive-and-supporting-people-with-psychosocial-disabilities-in-the-workplace-a-legal-analysis-of-the-situation-in-the-eu-member-states
Funding Agency
European Commission via Human European Consultancy
Programme
DG Justice grant
Project Title
 Don't knock on the wrong door: Charter Click
From
February 2015
To
February 2017
Summary
The project involves a consortium of European universities, together with governmental and non-governmental agencies that provide advice to citizens on the enforcement of rights. The project will examine the practice of national courts, and the EU courts, in applying the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This only applies if the factual scenario falls within the scope of EU law, which is a frequent source of confusion and uncertainty. The project aims to create an online resource that can assist citizens in understanding whether the Charter applies to their individual situation.
Funding Agency
European Commission
Programme
DG Justice Action Grant
Project Title
 European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination
From
2015
To
Summary
The Network conducts analysis of the implementation of EU anti-discrimination legislation within the Member States, the EEA states, and certain candidate countries for EU membership. During 2015, Mark is the acting coordinator for disability issues, which entails analysing the draft national reports as well as other contributions to the functioning of the Network. See further: http://www.non-discrimination.net
Funding Agency
European Commission
Programme
DG Justice grant
Project Title
 Promoting Diversity and Inclusion Through Workplace Adjustments: A Practical Guide
From
August 2015
To
December 2016
Summary
Mark played a key role in finalising a guide for the International Labour Organisation on promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace through the provision of workplace adjustments. The guide aims to identify the steps that employers should take, such as putting in place a procedure for handling requests from workers for accommodation. It provides examples of accommodations that might be considered for workers with physical or mental disabilities, those affected by HIV, those with family responsibilities or workers who need an accommodation due to a particular religious practice: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---declaration/documents/publication/wcms_536630.pdf
Funding Agency
International Labour Organisation
Project Type
Consultancy
Project Title
 Analysis of Comparative Review of Equality Data Collection Practices in the EU
From
31/8/15
To
30/8/16
Summary
Mark Bell is a Senior Expert in the team of researchers in this project. It is gathering information on the extent to which data relating to equality is gathered across the 28 EU Member States. This might include data on complaints of discrimination, individual experiences of discrimination or outcomes for minority groups in areas like employment and education.
Funding Agency
European Commission via Human European Consultancy
Person Months
1

Details Date From Date To
Employment Law Association of Ireland 2015 2024
Society of Legal Scholars 2005
Discrimination Law Association
Irish Association of Law Teachers 2018
Ireland in, editor(s)Luca Ratti, Elisabeth Brameshuber and Vincenzo Pietrogiovanni , The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages: Context, Commentary and Trajectories, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2024, pp475 - 489, [Mark Bell and Alan Eustace], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL  Other
Equal Treatment in, editor(s)Teun Jaspers, Frans Pennings, and Saskia Peters , European Labour Law, Cambridge, Intersentia, 2024, pp253 - 326, [Mark Bell and Ann Numhauser-Henning], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Accommodations in, editor(s)Guy Davidov, Brian Langille, and Gillian Lester , The Oxford Handbook of the Law of Work, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2024, pp547 - 560, [Mark Bell], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Mark Bell, Religious Ordination Requirement and Mliitary Chaplains in Ireland, International Labor Rights Case Law, 10, 2024, p67 - 71, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Mark Bell, Catholic Social Teaching and Labour Law: An Ethical Perspective on Work, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2023, 1 - 240pp, Book, PUBLISHED  URL
More than an Afterthought? Equality Law in Ireland during the Pandemic in, editor(s)Shreya Atrey and Sandra Fredman , Exponential Inequalities: Equality Law in Times of Crisis, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2023, pp145 - 160, [Mark Bell], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  URL
Mental Health, Discrimination and Employment Law in, editor(s)Brendan D Kelly and Mary Donnelly , Routledge Handbook of Mental Health Law, Routledge, 2023, pp403 - 420, [Mark Bell], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
International Journal of Discrimination and the Law, 23, 1, (2023), 4 - 180p, Mark Bell and Laverne Jacobs, [eds.], Notes: [Theme: Inclusive Post-Secondary Education and Persons with Disabilities], Journal, PUBLISHED
Non-Discrimination Religion/Belief, Oxford Encyclopedia of EU Law, Online, Oxford University Press, 2022, pp1-12 , [Mark Bell ], Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, PUBLISHED  URL
Non-Discrimination Sexual Orientation, Oxford Encyclopedia of EU Law, Online, Oxford University Press, 2022, pp1-16 , [Mark Bell], Item in dictionary or encyclopaedia, etc, PUBLISHED  URL
  

Page 1 of 6
Mark Bell, Dignity Amid Digitalization: Catholic Social Teaching and the Future of Work, Law & Religion: In Times of Crisis, Challenges and Change, Fordham University London, 20 March, 2025, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Definition of Key Concepts in EU Anti-Discrimination Law, Applying EU Anti-Discrimination Law, Dublin, King's Inns, 3 April, 2025, Academy of European Law, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Dignity Amid Digitalization: Bringing Catholic Social Teaching to the Platform Economy, European Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose, Palermo, 20 May, 2024, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, The Social Teaching of the Catholic Church and the Dignity of Work, International Society of Labour and Social Security Law World Congress, Rome, 19 September, 2024, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Maintaining Mandatory Retirement: Mallon v The Minister for Justice, Ireland, and the Attorney General, Irish Supreme Court Review, Trinity College Dublin, 19 October, 2024, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Religious Discrimination at the Workplace and the CJEU Case-Law Regarding Headscarves, Applying EU Anti-Discrimination Law, Malta, 15 November, edited by Academy of European Law (ERA) , 2024, Conference Paper, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Religious Discrimination at the Workplace and Recent CJEU Case-Law, EU Equality Law Seminar, Belfast, 19 February, 2024, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Ireland, Care as a Constitutional Value, TriCON webinar, 28 February , 2024, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Unleashing Potential: Reasonable Accommodations at Work, ILO Global Business and Disability Network Webinar, Online, 17 April, 2024, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Mark Bell, Achieving Work-life Balance for Carers of Persons with Disabilities - Rights for Carers in EU and National Law, Life and Work in Balance: Legal responses to working life in times of change and crisis, Norway, 26 October, 2023, University of Bergen, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


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Award Date
European University Institute Law Prize for doctoral thesis 1999/2000
Jean Monnet Fellowship, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute 2004
Mark's research interests lie primarily in the areas of equality and work. His current research is focused on the relationship between religion and employment/labour law, including analysis of the contribution that religious beliefs can bring to ethical reflection on justice in working life. He has published extensively on anti-discrimination law, employment/labour law, and EU law. Recent research on equality has explored the rights of persons with disabilities, especially those with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. In relation to employment/labour law, his recent research has focused on work-life balance and the extent to which employers should make adjustments for workers' personal situations and identities. His research has also addresses the legal regulation of non-standard forms of work, such as temporary or part-time work. Mark welcomes inquiries from potential research students in areas broadly related to anti-discrimination law and employment/labour law. He has experience of supervising doctoral research in these fields dealing with domestic law, comparative law, and EU law.