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To Protect or Empower? A Critical Exploration of the Consideration of User Agency in Irish Social Media Policymaking
Get PDFGovernments are increasingly regulating social media (SM) to curb harms such as sexual exploitation, disinformation, and hate speech. However, we cannot assume that such policies are best serving users’ agency, which can be defined as users’ abilities to shape their online experiences in alignment with their goals. A critical question is whether policymakers see users as only requiring protection, or as also needing agency enhancement (i.e., empowerment). The historical popularity of technological determinist (TD) ideology, which considers humans subordinate to technology, suggests that policymakers may see users as inherently lacking agency and, therefore, may believe efforts to enhance agency are futile.
This dissertation explores the consideration of user agency in SM policy by analysing the formation of Ireland’s Online Safety and Media Regulation Act of 2022 (OSMR). OSMR is one of the most far-reaching pieces of SM policy to date and represents a profound break from Ireland’s historical self-regulatory approach toward the technology industry. Further, OSMR’s key remit—to hold Irish-based companies accountable for SM harms throughout the EU— means that it will potentially influence the agency of millions of users.
This project examines Irish legislators’ beliefs using a critical theory of technology (CTT) lens and through critical frame analyses of OSMR policy debates, legislator interviews, and user focus groups. Key findings included that ‘strong’ TD did not influence legislators but that they nonetheless aimed to protect rather than empower users. Further, legislators’ ambiguity concerning OSMR’s beneficiaries, as well as their frequent references to personal SM experiences, signalled a limited understanding of users’ needs. Focus group data showed that users were less likely to believe in user agency than legislators, unaware of OSMR, and wary of government SM regulation. This dissertation contributes to CTT by exploring how deliberative forums may help connect policymakers and users to achieve ‘democratisation of technology’
BODIPY Photosensitisers for Potential Use in Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy
No full textChapter 1 presents a brief introduction to the work discussed in this thesis and provides an overview of relevant compounds discussed in the literature, which have informed the results in chapters 2 – 5. An emphasis is placed on the importance of developing heavy atom free photosensitisers for singlet oxygen (1O2) generation, as alternatives to conventional antibiotics, which is the basis for the work detailed in these studies. There have been a limited number of BODIPYs reported which meet these criteria, leaving their potential somewhat unrealised as antimicrobial photodynamic agents. BODIPYs for use in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution are briefly discussed as to provide a basis for chapter 5’s studies. Chapter 2 explores heavy-atom free anthracene-BODIPY dyads as potential antimicrobial agents, and ability to bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA). A series of time-resolved studies were conducted ranging from the picosecond to microsecond time range to probe the excited state dynamics of the photosensitisers and pathways taken to initiate and propagate ISC. Substitution at the 2 and 6 positions with alkyne linkage and piperazine units was also carried out to tune the anthracene BODIPY dyad for better red-light absorption and biocompatibility. Chapter 3 follows on from the work conduct previously in the group by Cullen et al. by incorporation of BODIPYs into conjugated copolymers with 1,4diethynylbenzene linkers for potential as antimicrobial materials. Differences were observed in the photophysical properties of each polymer family, with the mesosubstituent playing a key role in the excited states populated by the copolymers. Chapter 4 focuses on the impact of extending the π-conjugation of an anthraceneBODIPY dyad about the 2 and 6 position to induce a significant red-shift in its absorption to improve suitability for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). The BODIPY dyad with extended conjugation exhibited long-lived excited states, high singlet oxygen quantum yields and was shown to be potent against Gram-positive bacteria species, even in the case of MRSA strains. Chapter 5’s focus shifts from biological applications, whereby a series of 2,6-iodinated BODIPYs with varying mesosubstituents were evaluated for their photocatalytic potential for hydrogen generation
Supporting the development of dialogue in children aged 4-8 Years: The impact of participation in a professional learning community on teachers’ knowledge and practice.
Get PDFThe significant contribution dialogic engagement makes to children’s development is widely documented (Alexander, 2018; Wells, 2007). Its place in classroom discourse is also accepted with teachers playing a central role in supporting its advancement (Michaels & O’Connor, 2015). It is agreed that without their support, children would be unable to
sustain this type of engagement. There is, however, limited information available regarding the approaches taken by teachers in lower primary classrooms in Ireland, to support the development of dialogue with and amongst their children. This study, in its adoption of Vygotsky’s (1986) socio-cultural theory of learning, sought first to identify teachers’ knowledge and practice with regard to developing dialogue with
and amongst their children. Secondly, it examined how participation in a professional learning community (PLC) could facilitate teachers in reflecting on and advancing their knowledge and practice in this area.
This study operated within a subjective paradigm that celebrates the complexities of human engagement. Data gathered from interviews, observations, recordings of meetings and audio/audio-visual recordings of practice served to create a case study that featured the experiences of nine teachers in two schools over the course of one academic year. A PLC was established in each school and over six cycles of engagement teachers were facilitated by the researcher in examining their knowledge and practice.Inductive and deductive analysis of the study’s data revealed that while initially teachers
were unsure about how to develop dialogue amongst their children, their knowledge and
practice was positively impacted by their participation in a PLC. The study’s findings
suggest that adopting a speculative stance assisted teachers and children in their
endeavours to engage dialogically. With regard to teachers’ professional learning, it
appears that the facilitation available within the PLC may have been insufficient to bring
about changes in practice, and it may have been the opportunity to avail of coaching that
assisted participants in reflecting on and altering their practice. Recommendations arising
from this study include the need for further investigation regarding the place of dialogic
engagement in lower primary classrooms, and the investment in a cohort of teachers within
schools who will nurture inquiry through dialogue and facilitate reflective practice
Identity narrative and constitutional flux. Nationalist and Unionist civil society perspectives on Irish unification.
Get PDFThis study investigates the evolving identity narratives articulated by Nationalist and Unionist civil society actors in the context of ongoing constitutional uncertainty and debates around Irish unity. It situates these narratives within the broader framework of post-Brexit political
realignment and the increasing salience of constitutional change across the island of Ireland. Drawing on qualitative data gleaned through a semi-structured interview approach with civil
society actors, along with a historical and political analysis, the research explores how questions of belonging, sovereignty, and constitutional fluctuation is being mediated.
The paper argues that both Nationalist and Unionist actors, and others, are engaged in processes of re-articulation and boundary-making as they confront the prospect—real or perceived—of a constitutional referendum. Nationalist narratives tend to frame Irish unity as a
pathway to reconciliation and social justice, embedding their visions within a discourse of inclusivity and pluralism. In contrast, many Unionist narratives express anxiety over potential marginalisation and cultural erosion, often invoking themes of preservation and acceptance of current realities.
This analysis reveals that civil society actors play a pivotal role in shaping public discourse around constitutional issues, not passively, but as proactive agents that aid the construction political meaning. The paper highlights the strategic use of narrative framing to mobilize
support, bridge community divides, or resist constitutional transformation. It also examines the limitations of dialogue in a post-conflict context as well as the potential for new discursive
spaces to emerge that transcend binary identity categories.
By centering on the perspectives of non-state actors, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of constitutional flux. It underscores the importance of identity construction in periods of political transition and enriches debates on the democratic legitimacy
of constitutional change processes in deeply divided societies
The 2016 EU-Turkey Statement: Legal, Political, and Human Rights Implications in the Context of Migration Governance
Get PDFThe EU-Turkey Statement of March 2016 represents a pivotal moment in the European Union’s approach to migration governance, aimed at reducing irregular arrivals while facilitating returns to Turkey. However, its legal nature, implementation, and compatibility with EU law and international human rights standards remain subjects of debate. This thesis provides a comprehensive legal and institutional analysis of the EU-Turkey Statement, examining whether it constitutes a binding international agreement or a mere political declaration, and evaluating its implications for the rights of asylum seekers.
By assessing the Statement's legal basis, procedural safeguards, and enforcement mechanisms, this research critically examines its compatibility with the principle of non-refoulement, the prohibition of collective expulsions, and EU asylum law. Through an analysis of key jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the thesis explores how recent rulings—such as A.R.E. v. Greece and C-406/22—challenge the presumption that Turkey qualifies as a safe third country. Additionally, the study situates the EU-Turkey Statement within the broader context of EU externalization policies, drawing comparisons with other migration agreements to assess its role in shaping contemporary asylum governance.
The findings indicate that while the Statement has contributed to a reduction in irregular migration, its implementation has raised significant legal concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of asylum seekers, the legality of pushbacks, and procedural deficiencies in Greece’s fast-track asylum system. Moreover, the European Council’s role in negotiating the Statement outside of formal treaty-making procedures raises questions about institutional accountability and democratic oversight in EU migration policy.
By critically engaging with case law, policy developments, and legal doctrine, this thesis argues that the EU-Turkey Statement sets a concerning precedent for migration governance by prioritizing border control over fundamental rights protections. The study concludes by proposing legal and policy recommendations to enhance transparency, accountability, and human rights safeguards in future migration agreements
Haunted Sex: Queer Art and the Spectral Politics of Cruising
Get PDFThis research project examines cruising-related artworks from the past fifteen years to explore the impact that cultural developments and new technologies have had on discourses relating to queer sexuality. Theorising queer sex as haunted – by the sting of abjection, the trauma of loss, the idealistic hopes of liberation and queer futurity – it demonstrates how the gravitational force of these spectral pasts and inchoate futures can overburden sex with meaning, agency and ethicopolitical potential. By adopting an eidolontological mode of analysis – a novel critical methodology I developed that combines hauntology with the concept of the eidolon – each chapter explores artistic case studies undergirded by feelings of crisis, lack and unease. Turning towards these negative feelings allows me to untangle the hauntological dimensions of present-day perspectives on public sex. Cruising can chafe with contemporary homonormative and queer ideals relating to pride, visibility, agency and the careful management of self. Instead of reactively idealising these practices as queerly radical, this project turns towards the complicated aspects of cruising cultures. Each chapter delves into queer sex’s unsettling impurities to determine what we can learn from anxious cruising discourses that foreground the risks of forgetting (Chapter 2), promiscuity and addiction (Chapter 3), silence and invisibility (Chapter 4), and mediated intimacies (Chapter 5). In doing so, the PhD works to deidealise and deperilise dissident sex, untethering it from the responsibility of realising utopia or dystopia
Evidence triangulator: using large language models to extract and synthesize causal evidence across study designs
Get PDFHealth strategies increasingly emphasize both behavioural and biomedical interventions, yet the complex and often contradictory guidance on diet, behavior, and health outcomes complicates evidence-based decision-making. Evidence triangulation across diverse study designs is essential for balancing biases and establishing causality, but scalable, automated methods for achieving this are lacking. In this study, we assess the performance of large language models in extracting both ontological and methodological information from scientific literature to automate evidence triangulation. A twostep extraction approach—focusing on exposure-outcome concepts first, followed by relation extraction—outperforms a one-step method, particularly in
identifying the direction of effect (F1 = 0.86) and statistical significance
(F1 = 0.96). Using salt intake and blood pressure as a case study, we calculate the Convergency of Evidence and Level of Convergency, finding a strong excitatory effect of salt on blood pressure (942 studies), and weak excitatory effect on cardiovascular diseases and deaths (124 studies). This approach complements traditional meta-analyses by integrating evidence across study designs, and enabling rapid, dynamic assessment of scientific controversies
Developing multimodal cervical cancer risk assessment and prediction model based on LMIC hospital patient card sheets and histopathological images
Get PDFCervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to early diagnostic tools is limited. In Ethiopia, cervical cancer diagnosis often relies on manual interpretation of biopsies, which can be time-consuming and subjective. This study aims to develop a multimodal machine learning model that integrates histopathological images and associated patient clinical records to improve cervical cancer risk prediction and biopsy detection. The dataset comprises 404 biopsy images and corresponding clinical records from 499 patients, collected at Jimma Medical Center. The preprocessing of histopathological images and clinical records involved image enhancement, data augmentation, imputation of
missing values, and class balancing techniques. Subsequently, (I) a pre-trained convolutional neural network deep learning (VGG16) model was applied on the histopathological dataset, (II) a Random Forest classifier was trained on the patient clinical records, and (III) a late fusion strategy was employed to integrate the outputs of both classifiers for multimodal analysis. Recursive Feature Elimination was used to identify key predictive factors from the patient data, and the model’s performance was thoroughly validated using accuracy, AUC-ROC curves, and
confusion matrices, ensuring reliability across all classes. As a result, convolutional neural networks and Random Forest classifiers achieved accuracies of 91% and 96%, respectively. The integrated multimodal model achieved 92% accuracy, demonstrating enhanced robustness and clinical relevance by combining complementary data sources.
These findings suggest that multimodal approaches hold promise for improving cervical cancer diagnostics in resource-limited settings. Future work will focus on validating the model with diverse datasets and integrating it into clinical workflows to support healthcare providers in LMICs
Translation Industry Ethics
Get PDFEthics are of growing academic interest in Translation Studies but are rarely reviewed across the translation industry. This chapter surveys related work, as the purview of ethics in translation broadens to include all stakeholders, and examines key issues, focusing on business ethics and the increasing use of technology. It looks at the effect on organisations’ stakeholders and their stated purpose as they scramble to add AI to their products and to broaden what they can offer commercially in order to secure their bottom line. Finally, it considers the potential effects of incoming legislation and the potential for ethics as a business model