Centre for Irish and European Security 
The Centre for Irish and European Security (CIES)
The CIES since its inception in 2008 has offered expert independent research in the field of Irish and European aviation, civil and border security. Most recently our research has been directed towards embedding ethical themes into security technology implementation.
The CIES is the only Irish SME of its kind delivering expert security research input into the European market. The company has harnessed its unique position in the Irish marketplace to forge strong lasting collaborative relationships with a diverse blend of research centres, academic institutions and companies based in Ireland and abroad.
Moreover, the CIES has fostered collaborative partnerships with leading civil liberty campaigners and academics from the UK and, where appropriate, calls upon their input to various tasks and projects.
Societal Impact: A new research approach
The CIES has been at the centre of the recent drive towards integrating a mandatory societal impact dimension into European funded security research. CIES advises prospective collaborative partners at the pre-proposal stage wherein stringent, binding societal commitments must be met.
European funded projects
In addition, we participate on an ongoing basis in European funded projects under the Framework Seven Programme (FP7), offering expert research on the ethical and societal impact of new security technology as well as policy integration and dissemination activities.
Ultimately security research is the main process that determines the feasibility and sustainability of new security technology and techniques. A vital feature of this research is its societal suitability: Who is ultimately being served by new security technology and is it proportional?
The societal (or human) aspect of security research establishes links between implementation and research. It is the latters aim to ultimately serve the former, but without an end-user dimension at all research levels, security research output may not be fit for purpose at best or discriminatory at worst.
Current Research Agenda
The CIES is currently committed to four European funded security projects; two of which have begun, and the other two of which are due to begin in January 2013. In addition the CIES and its collaborative partners submit research proposals for future funding on an ongoing basis..
2012-2015: PACT (Public perception of security and privacy: Assessing knowledge, Collecting evidence, Translating research into action)
Is a three-year collaborative project, seeking to understand the complex interaction between privacy and security, the themes which feed into it and through a panEuropean survey articulate Europeans perceptions of the interaction between security and privacy.
The CIES has already contributed (along with Uppsala University) to one deliverable, the link to which can be found here: http://www.projectpact.eu/deliverables/wp1-root-branch-review/d1.4-social-impact-report
Homepage: http://www.projectpact.eu/
2012-2014: ETTIS (European Security Threats and Trends in Society)
A EU FP7 collaborative research project focused on identifying and assessing opportunities for enhancing societal security, improving situation awareness and informing investment options for societal security. ETTIS aims to construct a comprehensive framework, which can be used in the formulation of future decisions and security policies.
Homepage: http://ettis-project.eu/
Employee Profiles
Sadhbh McCarthy is co-founder & Director of the CIES
Sadhbh, having originally worked exclusively in the IT sector, is now an independent consultant working at policy level in Ireland and Europe. As a participant within the European Security Research Programme (ESRP & prior to that in the PASR) she is familiar not only with the content of security research but also with the objectives, priorities and political sensitivities that are key considerations across the sector. Moreover, she has a proven track record of delivering in terms of stakeholder and public buy-in and has extensive experience at national and European level in multiple sectors. She balances her commitments at the CIES with advisory board roles in European projects, NGOs & private companies across Ireland.
email: sadhbh@cies.ie
Senior Associates
Operations & Programme Manager
Peter McNulty has over 20 years experience as a senior IT consultant and project manager working mostly in the financial services industry in Ireland and the UK. He was previously Head of IT Development for the Lending Division of a leading UK bank before setting up his own company to provide consultancy services on retail lending products and systems. He has successfully delivered numerous complex programmes working closely with consultants from all over the world and developed a full support methodology for managing complex projects
email: peter@cies.ie
Communications Director
Orla Aungier has over 20 years experience as a Localisation Programme and Site Manager in the multi national IT sector in Ireland. She has managed a central services organisation across a range of disciplines including project management, with responsibilities in forecasting and management of the annual multi-million dollar budget as well as internal financial management and planning. More recently she undertook Operations Management as well as a Communications & PR role for a leading Irish NGO. Orla’s expertise in fostering strategic relationships on behalf of her clients has delivered significant business & funding growth.
email: orla@cies.ie
Junior Researcher
Daniel Deering has worked with CIES since April 2012. He holds an MSc in Applied Economics from The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelors degree in Economics from University College Dublin. His current research focuses on the intersection between civil liberties, privacy and security technology. His other research interests include human rights, the value of social capital in human development and civil society and government dynamics in repressive states.
email: daniel.deering@cies.ie
Admin: admin@cies.ie
