Latest News & Issues
Struggling Homeowners’ Needs Must be Prioritised
[Press Release] - September 01, 2010
Wednesday 1 September 2010Today the Financial Regulator has released quarterly figures which once again reveal a disturbing increase in the number of households in serious difficulty with their mortgage repayments. Almost one in 20 homeowners is now three or more months in arrears. Over two thirds of these are in [ ... ]
European Human Rights Chief welcomes Government's transgender decision
[News] - August 31, 2010
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg has welcomed the Government's decision "at long last" to recognise transgender woman Lydia Foy as a female. But he also called on the Government to include transgender representatives on its working group to draft a change in the law.In a "Comment" circulated [ ... ]
FLAC reaction to proposed changes in family law, bankruptcy and civil legal aid
[News] - August 30, 2010
Legal rights organisation FLAC has commented on the draft legislation published today by the Department of Justice & Law Reform, the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010. It noted that the new bill proposes changes across a wide range of issues including family law, bankruptcy law and the provision of [ ... ]
Public given rare opportunity to shape mortgage arrears policy
[Press Release] - August 19, 2010
The Financial Regulator is currently revising its Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears. As part of a consultation, it is offering the public a rare chance to contribute its views on how financial institutions should handle mortgage arrears in future.FLAC welcomes this chance to hear the voice of borrowers who [ ... ]
Cautious welcome for Financial Regulator's proposals
[Press Release] - August 13, 2010
Legal rights organisation FLAC today gave a cautious welcome to the Financial Regulator's consultation paper on the code of conduct for mortgage arrears. Noting that the document is a consultation paper only, FLAC said that it incorporated many of the interim recommendations of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and [ ... ]
FLAC Advisors are needed for Newbridge CIC
[Volunteers] - July 23, 2010
Since 1976 Newbridge Citizens Information Centre has provided a free, confidential and impartial information service. We are part of a network of CICs throughout the country that is supported by the Citizens Information Board. A large number of our queries are of a legal nature and a Free Legal Advice [ ... ]
FLAC welcomes decision to quash jury ban on deaf woman
[Press Release] - July 14, 2010
No blanket exclusion of deaf jurors, but state should go furtherFLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), which represented deaf woman Joan Clarke, welcomed the ruling of the High Court today quashing a decision of the Galway County Registrar to "excuse" Ms Clarke from jury service.The High Court said the County Registrar [ ... ]
FLAC welcomes interim recommendations of Expert Group
[Press Release] - July 06, 2010
FLAC today welcomed provisions contained in the interim report of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group but noted that major issues remain to be addressed by the Group which are of utmost concern to many thousands of households around the country."This interim report contains many positive measures which [ ... ]
Forced transfer of asylum seekers ignores rights, says legal group
[Press Release] - July 06, 2010
Legal rights group FLAC today described as "very worrying" recent developments around the announcement that some 150 people living in the Mosney direct provision centre are to be transferred with very little notice to other centres, saying it was concerned that the rights of very vulnerable people living under the [ ... ]
IMF support for vulnerable homeowners brings a necessary balance: says FLAC
[Press Release] - June 25, 2010
The legal rights group FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) said today that the recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in relation to vulnerable houseowners was a recognition of the need for balance as Ireland works its way out of the current economic crisis."In proposing support for vulnerable homeowners as [ ... ]
Joint release: Support groups seek independent complaints mechanism for direct provision
[Press Release] - June 23, 2010
A number of non-governmental organisations working in the area of asylum and refugee rights today called for the introduction of an independent complaints mechanism for people living in the direct provision system.The coalition of organisations were gathering in Leinster House to brief TDs and Senators around the current lack of [ ... ]
Government drops appeal in historic transgender case
[News] - June 21, 2010
Taoiseach to tell Dail Ireland is in breach of rights treatyThe Government has withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of transgender woman Lydia Foy. It has accepted a High Court ruling that Irish law on transgender rights is in breach of the European Convention on Human [ ... ]
Joint FLAC/NCLC Release: Proposed social welfare measures are unnecessary and regressive
[Press Release] - June 17, 2010
Two independent legal rights bodies have condemned changes proposed in the government's latest social welfare bill as "unnecessary and regressive."In a joint submission on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010, which was referred by the Dáil to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social & Family Affairs yesterday (16 June [ ... ]
New credit legislation brings no clarity for consumers
[Press Release] - June 14, 2010
Despite assurances following regulatory failures, the government has again failed to adequately prioritise consumer interests, said legal rights group FLAC today. This followed a low-key implementation of a European Union directive into Irish law which should provide better protection for consumers borrowing money in Ireland.The organisation was commenting on the [ ... ]
FLAC warns of danger to society from rise in serious mortgage arrears
[Press Release] - May 27, 2010
Legal rights group FLAC expressed grave concern today over fresh figures from the Financial Regulator that show mortgage arrears are continuing to rise steadily. The independent organisation, stressed that a comprehensive set of solutions to this crisis must be put in place as a matter of extreme urgency.According to the [ ... ]