FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is an independent human rights body which aims to achieve equal access to justice for all.
Registered Charity Number 20010256.
FLAC Statement: Read our legal and human rights analysis of the proposed Family & Care amendments (and their potential to deliver practical improvements in people's lives and rights).
FLAC will not actively participate in the current referendum campaigns.
We are saddened to hear of the death of
#RuthBaderGinsburg
, a trailblazer, a role model and a leader in the spheres of equality and Justice. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
#RIPRGB
A majority of the Supreme Court has upheld a challenge brought by Tomás Heneghan (a UL graduate who is represented by FLAC) to the constitutionality of laws which exclude him from voting in elections to the Seanad University Panel.
We
@flacireland
are deeply saddened to hear of the death of
@katiedawson23
. A great friend to Flac, and its lgbtq+ advice work, Katie was a generous and empathetic advocate as well as a multi-talented barrister with a strong commitment to human rights. She will be sorely missed.
WATCH📽️: Throughout 2019, FLAC has been marking 50 years in operation.
On Fri, 8th Nov we'll host our 50th Anniversary Celebration, incorporating the annual Dave Ellis Memorial, with Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.
FLAC welcomes landmark Supreme Judgment on Equal Treatment for Parents and their Children regardless of marital status.
“This historic judgment affirms the equality of all children and parents before the law" -
@eilis_barry
Read our full statement below
43 NGOs and advocates join FLAC’s call on Justice Minister to ensure Ireland’s vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families and communities can access Civil Legal Aid
Read our statement at
“Flac welcomes this judgment which extends the principle of equality in the context of a social welfare payment, recognising that a non-marital family fulfuils the same social fucntion as a marital family and experiences the same loss when a parent dies.”
FLAC welcomes this positive decision and the establishment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Disability. Ireland lacks strong disability rights legislation and a programme of disability law reform is needed to address this.
FLAC are delighted to announce that Solicitor, Christopher McCann has joined the legal team.
He will provide advocacy & legal representation to the
#TravellerCommunity
, as part of FLAC’s Traveller Legal Service set to be launched on 27 July
#SaveTheDate
The Supreme Court has today held that the Oireachtas must perform its “constitutional obligation” to expand the franchise for elections to the Seanad University Panels.
@eilis_barry
@LaurCah
@TomasJHeneghan
Flac Is proud of our role in the struggle for
#GenderRecognition
. Today we salute the legend that is Lydia Foy seen here in 2014 following her milestone legal victory that would benefit the entire transgender community
#GenderRec5YearsOn
Read Lydia’s story
IRFU Gender Participation Policy may give rise to unlawful discrimination and serious human rights and equality concerns.
@TransEqTogether
Read our full press release here
The Supreme Court has decided that its order declaring
#Seanad
University Panel voting laws unconstitutional will take effect on 31 May 2025 – meaning legislation amending those laws (and expanding the franchise to institutions beyond TCD and NUI) must be in place before then.
We at FLAC are very pleased that Minister for Justice
@HMcEntee
has allocated us additional resources crucial to our sustainability as an organisation in
#Budget2021
. We would like to thank
@HMcEntee
for supporting FLAC at a time when our services are needed most.
Find out more about FLAC's new
#LGBTQI
+ Legal Clinic at the livestream of our official launch this Monday May 30 at 5.30pm via zoom.
Visit our webpage to find out more about the clinic and to register for the launch.
FLAC is concerned at the content of an internal survey of Garda attitudes to ethnic minorities, details of which were published today on the
@IrishTimes
website by journalist
@ConorGallaghe_r
.
Read FLAC's press release on the issue here
We are delighted to welcome Deirdre Malone to the PILA team in FLAC today. Deirdre brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom to the new role and we look forward to working with her.
@PILAireland
@DeirdreMalone9
FLAC are delighted to announce the new Chairperson of FLAC is David Fennelly BL.
David first became involved with FLAC as a student in Trinity and has served as a volunteer for many years.
Read our short interview with David here
Today at the GPO, FLAC was proud to join our fellow workers and members of the North Inner City community in denouncing violence and racism
#IrelandForAll
FLAC has started a new blog✍️
The FLAC Casebook will give updates about FLAC’s ongoing case work to highlight notable outcomes and to provide an insight into how FLAC uses litigation in the public interest as a mechanism for achieving its broader aims.
'Barriers to Justice for Irish Travellers Seeking to Challenge Discrimination'
Join us on Friday 29 April at 9.30 G01 Brookfield Health Sciences, UCC for this Report Launch Event! Registration & further details:
Register now to attend the Launch of FLAC's new Traveller Legal Service on Mon 27 July, 12.30–1.30pm.
The service is supported by
@CommunityFound
& in cooperation with a Steering Group made up of reps from the national Traveller orgs
For more info visit
‘Todays Supreme Court decision in Clare CoCo v McDonagh finally clarifies that the protection of the dwelling under the Constitution does extend to Travellers living on unauthorised sites’ - Sinead Lucey, FLAC
It is exactly 50 years ago today that the first FLAC clinic opened its door to those most in need. To mark the occasion we meet up with some our volunteers and our colleagues at CICs to celebrate today. To start with, here is Síle Mason DM in Dundrum
@citizensinfo
#flacatfifty
“Accessing the legal system and the courts is a really important part of a wider strategy to see Travellers’ human rights vindicated.”
New ‘essential’ legal service for Travellers launches via
@IrishTimes
@KittyHollandIT
Thank you to Minister for Justice
@HMcEntee
and Dept of Justice’s Oonagh Buckley
@DSGJustEqual
for virtually meeting
@eilis_barry
& Catherine Hickey, ahead of the launch of FLACs 2019 Annual Report next week to discuss
#AccessToJustice
and how we can work together going forward.
On
#InternationalRomaDay
, while we at FLAC celebrate Romani culture, it is also important to highlight the persistent difficulties & discrimination faced by the Roma Community as seen by our dedicated Roma Legal Clinic established in 2018 with the assistance of
@DeptJusticeIRL
Congratulations to Siobhan Phelan SC, former FLAC chairperson, on her appointment as a Judge of the High Court. Siobhan is a wonderful advocate for human rights and a fantastic, formidable lawyer.⚖️
Well done also to Judge Karen O'Connor and Conor Dignam SC.
@eilis_barry
“Flac unequivocally supports the Criminal Bar’s demand for fair pay... Failing to properly resource the provision of legal aid jeopardises the rights of those who come before the courts and the rule of law." -
@eilis_barry
#FairIsFair
@TheBarofIreland
Flac Managing Solicitor, Sinead Lucey welcoming this WRC ruling today said it was “extremely significant” for her clients and provided an “important clarification” of discrimination on the grounds of housing assistance under the Equal Status Acts.
FLAC would like to voice our solidarity against racism and discrimination in all its manifestations at this time.
As a Human Rights organisation, equal access to justice is at the heart of what we do here at FLAC.
"It is with profound sadness that we at FLAC learned of the death of Frank Callanan SC. He is unparalleled, his death is a huge loss to the Bar, the cultural and political world and access to justice. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam." FLAC CE
@eilis_barry
FLAC & our LGBTQI Legal Service were shocked by the events in Dublin and Sligo in recent days. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQI community & will continue to advocate for full LGBTQI equality in all aspects of our work.
FLAC is delighted to welcome Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson as the guest of honour at our Dave Ellis Memorial.
The event marks the culmination of events throughout the year to celebrate FLAC's 50th anniversary.
FLAC today welcomed the finding of the Circuit Court that its Client, Mr Keogh had been discriminated on the ‘housing assistance ground’, when a landlord informed him that she did not accept HAP. Read FLAC's press release on todays judgement on our website
FLAC have published a Guide to Making a Submission to the Review of the Equality Acts. It sets out the key issues the Review will address and FLAC’s recommendations, as well as practical guidance for writing a submission. Submissions are due on 8 December
FLAC's new
#LGBTQI
+ Legal Clinic will be officially launched this Monday May 30 at 5.30pm via zoom.
Register now to come along and find out more about this pilot clinic.
In his
#EqualStatusCheck
Closing Address, Minister
@rodericogorman
has confirmed that he received Cabinet approval this morning for a full review of the Equal Status Acts and Employment Equality Acts.
BLOG: Traveller Legal Service Solicitor Christopher McCann discusses how a recent case illustrates the deficits in the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, including "the presumptive prohibition against granting legal aid for cases concerning housing or evictions".
We’re delighted to welcome this evenings guest of honour, Former UN High Commisioner for Human Rights and Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson who joins former broadcaster and journalist Doireann Ní Bhríain in conversation for the Annual Dave Ellis Memorial.
#FLACat50
On this
#WorldDayofSocialJustice2021
,
"Social Justice cannot be achieved without equal access to Justice. We at FLAC continue to campaign for a review of the Irish civil legal aid system, as promised by Minister
@HMcEntee
" -
@Eilis_Barry
Flac CE
“The absence of a clearly articulated right to housing contributed to the emergence of the housing crisis, and any solution to the crisis must be founded on the principle of housing as a human right”
Read FLAC’s response to the
#HousingForAll
plan:
Happy
#IWD2024
to our staff, volunteers, sister organisations and the legal community.
#AccessToJustice
is vital to achieve inclusive gender equality. Through all our services, including Traveller, Roma and LGBTQI legal clinics, we continue to fight for the rights of all women!
Access to justice is – and always has been – at the core of FLAC’s work. Tomorrow, at our 50th Anniversary Celebration, we'll reflect on progress made to date and highlight the issues that still need to be progressed.
A review of the Equality Acts (ESA & EEA) is underway. This presents a significant opportunity to reform Ireland’s equality code.
@_IHREC
&
@flacireland
are partnering on a joint project that aims to strengthen the engagement of civil society with this review.
#EqualityAction
From Josie Airey to Lydia Foy; from a small office in Dublin to clinics at 66 locations around Ireland - much has changed since FLAC was founded in 1969!
At 7pm, FLAC's
@eilis_barry
and Peter Ward look bk on 50 years on
@NewstalkFM
's 'Talking History':
Excellent analysis of the Supreme Court's decision in O'Meara from
@ConorUCCLaw
.
Flac is very grateful to Professor O'Mahony for the assistance of the
@childlawucc
project which provided invaluable research in relation to the children's rights aspects of the case .
@LawUCC
There's a lot to say about today's Supreme Court judgment in the O'Meara case on entitlement to Survivor's Pension in unmarried couples. Others will say lots in time, I'm sure. Here are just a few brief thoughts on the judgment and its connection to the forthcoming referendums 🧵
Thread:👇👇👇
During
#GE2020
we’re asking candidates to sign up to our
#Right2Justice
pledge to make sure everyone who needs
#CivilLegalAid
can access it.
This thread is going to explain what that is and why it’s so important it’s resourced properly. ⬇️
Speaking in Dublin today,
@eilis_barry
Chief Executive of FLAC called on election candidates to commit to supporting a
#right2justice
for those on low incomes, if they are elected to the Dáil.
Read our press release at
It is a priority for FLAC that all communities have parity of access to justice. Together with our
#flacvolunteers
, North Dublin
@citizensinfo
&
@SLIS_Ireland
we are delighted to offer an online free legal advice clinic with sign language.
Text 087 1332232 to get an appointment.
Tomorrow FLAC will appear before the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community to discuss Access to Housing and Accommodation, including Traveller-specific Accommodation. Since 2020, FLAC has operated a dedicated Traveller Legal Service (TLS).
The Traveller History and Culture in Education Bill has passed final stage in the
#Seanad
! Congratulations to
@ColetteKelleher
. Sen Kelleher in her closing comments thanked Mr. James Kane BL, the barrister who drafted the Bill, and
@PILAireland
for their assistance .
#ProBono
FLAC would like to wish the very best to our outgoing chairperson, David Fennelly.
We are very grateful to David for his invaluable leadership & support since first joining FLAC Council in 2019 and stepping up to FLAC Chairperson in 2021
We wish David all the best
“What we have learned from the referendums can be used as the starting point for creating law reform programmes that aim to achieve substantive change for families, carers and people with disabilities.” -
@eilis_barry
(FLAC CE) in today’s
@IrishTimes
Listen back to FLAC Managing Solicitor Sinead Lucey's interview on
@PatKennyNT
this morning to give the legal perspective on the Department of Social Protection's rules on social welfare recipients leaving the country
Congratulations to the legal team involved in this landmark case from us here in FLAC and the Traveller Legal Service.
Well done to
@JlodJohn
@PGMsolicitors
@rossamcmahon
& also
@LewisMooney01
& Michael Lynn SC.
Well done also to
@_IHREC
who acted as amicus curiae in the case.
Listen in to today's
@drivetimerte
on
@RTERadio1
to hear FLAC Managing Solicitor Sinead Lucey and
@PaveePoint
's Martin Collins speaking about the launch of our new dedicated Traveller Legal Service.
#Climatechange
is an
#AccessToJustice
issue. FLAC supports access to civil
#legalaid
for environmental cases so communities can protect their human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment ☀️🌍
FLAC welcomes this report. A socio-economic status ground is one of several amendments which should result from the current comprehensive Review of the Equality Acts to ensure that the legislation can be used to tackle disadvantage, poverty and social exclusion.
@eilis_barry
On this
#HolocaustMemorialDay
FLAC pause to honour the victims of the Holocaust. The level of discrimination witnessed in our Roma & Traveller Legal Clinics reminds us to never be complacent when it comes to the marginalisation of vulnerable communities
#HMD2022
@het_ireland
Congratulations to Jackie, FLAC's Information Line Coordinator, who this week recorded her 20,000th call since 2012. Thank you Jackie for your hard work and dedication from all here in FLAC!
Today is
#TravellerEthnicityDay
, marking the 4 years of the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic minority in Ireland & also
#ZeroDiscriminationDay
If you have been discriminated against FLAC's Traveller Legal Service may be able to help. Contact one of the orgs below for info.
FLAC welcomes
@_IHREC
’s commitment to
#AccessToJustice
as a key strand of their new
#IHRECstrategy
. We are particularly pleased to hear that they will be “working to broaden access to legal aid”.
We are delighted to be part of the Chief Justice’s committee on the upcoming
#AccesstoJustice2021
conference. The two day event provides an excellent opportunity to look at a whole range of important issues with informed international speakers and engaging workshops.
@eilis_barry
FLAC are delighted to welcome Monica Horyszna to the FLAC team as our new Legal Executive.
Monica will provide dedicated support to FLAC’s Traveller legal service and the other solicitors in the legal team.
#AccessToJustice
FLAC CE
@eilis_barry
and Legal Officer Christopher Bowes outside Leinster House ahead of FLAC’s appearance at the Covid-19 Oireachtas Committee in Leinster House this afternoon. We welcome the opportunity to attend with our colleagues in
@_IHREC
and
@ICCLtweet
#AccessToJustice
FLAC
@eilis_barry
'We believe that access to justice is even more important in a pandemic. FLAC’s information line which provides an insight into the acute and stressful situations that people are facing, is overwhelmed with complex new queries from people’
The Supreme Court has decided that the Oireachtas was “mandated” by the seventh amendment to the Constitution to legislate to expand the franchise for elections to the Seanad University Panel. The Court will hear further submissions on the form of order to be made.
"The Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) said this is the first decision of its kind concerning the Roma Community and access to shops, which sets an important precedent in light of the “rampant discrimination” suffered by the Roma community."
We are delighted to have been awarded a
@Rethink_Ireland
#Innovatetogetherfund
grant. ‘This funding is invaluable as it will assist us to meet the challenges of
#Covid19
and provide crucial legal information and advice remotely to those who need it most' -
@eilis_barry
, Flac CE.
Registration is now open for the FLAC and
@TCDLawSchool
Seminar Series “STATUS CHECK: 20 YEARS OF THE EQUAL STATUS ACTS”, beginning at 1pm on Tuesday, 1 June, and continuing every Tuesday throughout June.
Traveller family permitted to bring challenge against Tipperary County Council over accommodation
The family was represented by Colm O'Dwyer SC, with Sean Betty, and instructed by solicitors for the Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac),
@eilis_barry
So many employees returning to work & due to return shortly are contacting the FLAC telephone info line with their fears and concerns.
This need for info is echoed in the great interest for our volunteer's
#EmploymentLaw
training tomorrow with FLAC's Paul Joyce &
@ciaranahern
.
FLAC warmly welcomes the news of Nuala Egan SC's appointment as the new Chairperson of the
@Legal_Aid_Board
, we wish you well in your new role and look forward to working with you.
We also wish the very best to the outgoing chairperson, Ms. Justice Nuala Jackson.
@eilis_barry
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Nuala Egan SC as our new chairperson.
With her extensive experience and expertise, we look forward to working with her over the coming years.
We also wish the very best to our outgoing chairperson, Ms. Justice Nuala Jackson.
#TravellerPrideWeek
2021 is on Sept 20th - Oct 3rd.
@FLAC
&
@tejpucc
are proud to support the Traveller community as they;
-celebrate their culture, identity & ethnicity
-challenge racism & discrimination
-build a better future for the whole community
#equality
#strongertogether
"The Family and Care referendums should bring about enforceable rights, stronger constitutional protection and improvements in lives and rights. To achieve this, FLAC has proposed a number of straightforward alterations to the wordings."
-
@eilis_barry
FLAC’s Traveller Legal Service welcomes the findings of the OCO in its No End in Site report. The picture portrayed is all too familiar yet remains a shameful indictment of the failings of local authorities throughout the State to live up to their statutory obligations.
'It's like we're forgotten.'
The Ombudsman for Children's Office investigated the living conditions for children on a local authority halting site.
Read our new report, No End in Site, here:
FLAC are delighted to offer our free legal advice clinic online with Irish Sign Language. Together with North Dublin CIS &
@SLIS_Ireland
. The clinic will run every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month. Please text 087 133 2232 for info.
@IrishDeafSoc
@citizensinfo
@deafVillageIrel
We at FLAC are delighted to be part of this significant project which aims to support Irish Travellers and erode the discrimination Irish Travellers face in their daily lives. We look forward to working as a partner with
@tejpucc
@ucc_law
@CCJHRlawucc
We are delighted to announce that we were awarded a Rights, Equality & Citizenship Grant from
@EU_Commission
DG JUST. This will fund our new partnership with
@flacireland
and creation of a Traveller-specific legal unit based here in
@CCJHRlawucc
@LawUCC
. More details attached: