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Cora Stack

TUD, Applied Sciences, Faculty Member

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I am an academic, mathematician and university lecturer with interests in mathematics linear algebra ring theory group theory discrete mathematics education engineering mathematics law and public policy psychology and whistleblowing.

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Drafts by Cora Stack

Eroding Trust: Corruption, Collusion, and the Fragile State of Accountability in Ireland's Public Institutions

In recent years, public discourse in Ireland has been increasingly dominated by allegations of co... more In recent years, public discourse in Ireland has been increasingly dominated by allegations of corruption, collusion, and systemic failures across government, the judiciary, regulatory bodies, and complaint mechanisms. Similar concerns are echoed internationally, yet the Irish case demonstrates unique vulnerabilities linked to weak whistleblowing protections, limited press freedom, and the absence of meaningful judicial oversight. This paper examines comparative patterns in Europe, the United States, and Canada, and asks whether Ireland's institutional structures are particularly susceptible to corruption and abuse of power. The paper argues that without robust transparency, media independence, and enforceable accountability, collusion between branches of the state poses devastating risks for democracy. Solutions must include strengthening whistleblowing protections, ensuring true independence of the judiciary, empowering investigative journalism, and providing lay litigants with fair access to justice.

Eroding Trust: Corruption, Collusion, and the Fragile State of Accountability in Ireland's Public Institutions

In recent years, public discourse in Ireland has been increasingly dominated by allegations of co... more In recent years, public discourse in Ireland has been increasingly dominated by allegations of corruption, collusion, and systemic failures across government, the judiciary, regulatory bodies, and complaint mechanisms. Similar concerns are echoed internationally, yet the Irish case demonstrates unique vulnerabilities linked to weak whistleblowing protections, limited press freedom, and the absence of meaningful judicial oversight. This paper examines comparative patterns in Europe, the United States, and Canada, and asks whether Ireland's institutional structures are particularly susceptible to corruption and abuse of power. The paper argues that without robust transparency, media independence, and enforceable accountability, collusion between branches of the state poses devastating risks for democracy. Solutions must include strengthening whistleblowing protections, ensuring true independence of the judiciary, empowering investigative journalism, and providing lay litigants with fair access to justice.

Silencing the Watchdog: State-Press Collusion, Retaliation and the Erosion of Press Freedom in Ireland and Europe

Press freedom is widely regarded as a cornerstone of democracy. Yet across Europe, and notably in... more Press freedom is widely regarded as a cornerstone of democracy. Yet across Europe, and notably in Ireland, there is growing evidence that governments, political actors, and local institutions collude-overtly or tacitly-with segments of the press to control narratives, marginalise dissent, and stifle voices that challenge the status quo. This paper examines how subtle forms of suppression-through legal intimidation, economic pressure, selective coverage, and collusion with councilscreate a chilling effect on journalists, candidates, and whistleblowers. Beginning with Ireland and the McKenna judgment, it considers how constitutional guarantees of fairness are undermined in practice, drawing on the case of Peter Casey's exclusion from coverage in the 2025 presidential nomination process, and comparing it with other candidates such as Gareth Sheridan and Maria Steen. It then situates these dynamics within broader European patterns and proposes reforms to protect media independence and restore public trust.

Arbitration First: A Novel Model for Peace, Fair Resolution, and Justice

Dedication This work is dedicated to Mr. Edmund Honohan, Master of the High Court, whose courage,... more Dedication This work is dedicated to Mr. Edmund Honohan, Master of the High Court, whose courage, independence, and vision in advocating for fairness and reform in the Irish justice system have been a profound source of inspiration. His recognition of the need for accessible, non-adversarial pathways to justice laid the groundwork for the model proposed here.

Arbitration First: A Novel Model for Peace, Fair Resolution, and Justice

This paper proposes a novel "Arbitration First" framework for the Irish legal and regulatory syst... more This paper proposes a novel "Arbitration First" framework for the Irish legal and regulatory systems, with potential international relevance. The model embeds arbitration and traumainformed mediation as the mandatory first stage in disputes across protected disclosures, family law (including coercive control), civil matters, and certain criminal cases. Crucially, the model integrates mental health expertise, particularly in personality dysfunction and trauma, to address the root causes of conflict and abuse. An independent statutory arbitration body, funded and structured like the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), would administer this system, ensuring faster, fairer, and more healing outcomes while preserving judicial oversight. The paper argues that such a reform could transform justice by interrupting cycles of harm, reducing adversarial trauma, and empowering frontline discretion.

Arbitration First: A Novel Model for Peace, Fair Resolution, and Justice

This paper proposes a novel "Arbitration First" framework for the Irish legal and regulatory syst... more This paper proposes a novel "Arbitration First" framework for the Irish legal and regulatory systems, with potential international relevance. The model embeds arbitration and traumainformed mediation as the mandatory first stage in disputes across protected disclosures, family law (including coercive control), civil matters, and certain criminal cases. Crucially, the model integrates mental health expertise, particularly in personality dysfunction and trauma, to address the root causes of conflict and abuse. An independent statutory arbitration body, funded and structured like the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), would administer this system, ensuring faster, fairer, and more healing outcomes while preserving judicial oversight. The paper argues that such a reform could transform justice by interrupting cycles of harm, reducing adversarial trauma, and empowering frontline discretion.

Protected Disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022

The enclosed paper, entitled: "The Implementation of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014-2018 Irel... more The enclosed paper, entitled: "The Implementation of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014-2018 Ireland and Acts of Omission" (in preparation), reports on serious and systemic acts of omission in the implementation of the Protected Disclosures framework across public bodies, universities, government departments, and agencies. These omissions undermine the purpose of the legislation, weaken whistleblower protections, and expose both employees and employers to serious injustice.

Stuck, Stressed, Stranded: Ireland's Housing Crisis Is Crippling a Generation

Justice Denied is Freedom Denied: The Power of Negotiation and Towards an Arbitration-First Society for Peace in Ireland and Worldwide

The Implementation of the Protected Disclosures Act in Ireland (2014-2018) and Acts of Omission: Legacy and Reform

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was internationally hailed as one of the most progressive piec... more The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was internationally hailed as one of the most progressive pieces of whistleblower protection legislation. Yet, as Dr. Cora Stack's investigation (2014-2018) revealed, its implementation was undermined by widespread acts of omission in the internal policies of Irish public institutions. These omissions, most notably the failure to explicitly include Section 8's presumption that a disclosure is protected unless proven otherwise, had the effect of considerably weakening whistleblower protections in practice. This paper reexamines Stack's findings, situates them within Ireland's legal and political history, and assesses whether the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, which transposed the EU Whistleblowing Directive, resolves the systemic issues she identified.

The Implementation of the Protected Disclosures Act in Ireland (2014-2018) and Acts of Omission: Legacy and Reform

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was internationally hailed as one of the most progressive piec... more The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was internationally hailed as one of the most progressive pieces of whistleblower protection legislation. Yet, as Dr. Cora Stack's investigation (2014-2018) revealed, its implementation was undermined by widespread acts of omission in the internal policies of Irish public institutions. These omissions-most notably the failure to explicitly include Section 8's presumption that a disclosure is protected unless proven otherwise-had the effect of considerably weakening whistleblower protections in practice. This paper reexamines Stack's findings, situates them within Ireland's legal and political history, and assesses whether the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, which transposed the EU Whistleblowing Directive, resolves the systemic issues she identified.

Justice Denied is Freedom Denied: How Broken Legal Systems Silence Ordinary People

Justice denied is freedom denied. This is not just a slogan-it is the lived reality of millions o... more Justice denied is freedom denied. This is not just a slogan-it is the lived reality of millions of ordinary people in Ireland and across the world. Justice is supposed to be the safeguard of dignity, equality, and accountability. It is meant to be the cornerstone of a functioning democracy-the mechanism by which citizens can challenge abuse, correct wrongs, and protect their families. But when justice is inaccessible, unaffordable, and captured by those with money or influence, freedom itself becomes an illusion. A society may look democratic on the surface, but without real access to justice, citizens are reduced to spectators in their own democracy. The Human Cost of Denial Across societies, parents are denied access to their children, workers are denied access to remedies, and families are denied recognition of the harm caused by coercive control, financial sabotage, and alienation. Instead of protection, they encounter silence, indifference, and endless legal obstacles. This is not an anomaly but part of a daily reality in which ordinary people walk into courtrooms expecting fairness and leave crushed by a process they cannot afford, cannot understand, and cannot influence.

Justice Denied is Freedom Denied: How Broken Legal Systems Silence Ordinary People

Justice denied is freedom denied. Let me explain why. This is not just a slogan. It is the lived ... more Justice denied is freedom denied. Let me explain why. This is not just a slogan. It is the lived reality of millions of ordinary people in Ireland and across the world. Justice is supposed to be the safeguard of dignity, equality, and accountability. It is meant to be the cornerstone of a functioning democracy-the mechanism by which ordinary people can challenge abuse, correct wrongs, and protect their families. But when justice is inaccessible, unaffordable, and captured by those with money or influence, freedom itself becomes an illusion. A society may look democratic on the surface, but without real access to justice, citizens are reduced to spectators in their own democracy.

Justice Denied is Freedom Denied

Dismantling Tusla: A Case for Reforming Ireland's Child and Family Protection System

Silenced Justice: Ireland, the Squeezed Middle, and the Global Crisis of Access to Courts

Silenced Justice: Ireland, the Squeezed Middle, and the Global Crisis of Access to Courts

The result is widespread reliance on self-representation, withdrawal from legal claims, and a per... more

Silenced Justice: Ireland, the Squeezed Middle, and the Global Crisis of Access to Courts

The result is widespread reliance on self-representation, withdrawal from legal claims, and a per... more

Silenced Justice: Ireland, the Squeezed Middle, and the Global Crisis of Access to Courts

Ireland's Housing Crisis: Towards Practical, Sensible and Sustainable Solutions