Latest News, Issues & Events
Mortgage supplement changes premature and unsupportive of hard-pressed borrowers
[Press Release] - April 25, 2012
Legal rights group FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) expressed concern today that a proposed change to the Social Welfare Pensions Bill 2012 will remove an essential short-term support to people who need help to pay difficult but sustainable mortgages. "The Minister's proposal to change how Mortgage Interest Supplement is awarded [ ... ]
Independence of new body the key to ensuring equality and human rights
[Press Release] - April 20, 2012
Legal rights group FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) welcomes the strong call for a new Human Rights & Equality Commission to be fully independent of government. Responding to the report of the Working Group to Minister for Justice & Equality, FLAC said proposals that the new Commission should report directly [ ... ]
Need to learn from others' experience on personal insolvency law
[Press Release] - April 19, 2012
At a conference launched by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD in Dublin this morning, legal rights organisation FLAC is bringing together Irish and international experts to share expertise and offer practical insights on the imminent reform of Ireland's outdated system of personal insolvency law.The event is examining what [ ... ]
Portlaoise FLAC urgently needs volunteer advisors
[Volunteers] - April 17, 2012
The Portlaoise FLAC is seeking fully qualified solicitors and barristers to volunteer to become advisors. FLAC Advisors are asked to provide first stop legal advice and information to members of the public who cannot afford private solicitors. Resources and support will be provided in the centre, and volunteers will be [ ... ]
Foy compensation decision welcome but legislation still needed
[News] - April 04, 2012
FLAC welcomes the Government decision to consider paying compensation to Dr Lydia Foy for its failure to officially recognise her as a woman for many years but points out that there is still no legislation to recognise Dr Foy or other transgender persons in their acquired gender.This will be the [ ... ]
Volunteer advisors are needed urgently in Finglas, Tallaght and Clondalkin
[Volunteers] - April 03, 2012
FLAC is looking for fully qualified solicitors and barristers to become advisors in Finglas, Clondalkin and Tallaght FLAC centres in Dublin. Volunteer advisors will be asked to provide first-stop legal information and advice to the members of the public in the centres one evening a month. Resource materials and additional [ ... ]
Briefing: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011
[Press Release] - March 21, 2012
FLAC presentation on Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and EqualityWednesday 21 March 2012FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is delighted to have the opportunity to present its analysis around this very important legislative proposal from the perspective of an organisation committed to access to [ ... ]
Code already allows banks ample contact with customers, so why change it?
[Press Release] - March 14, 2012
Legal rights organisation FLAC today called on the Central Bank to clarify why it should allow banks to make more calls to hard-pressed customers in mortgage arrears, after a state-imposed Code of Conduct had established a limit on such calls just last year.Reacting to reports that the Central Bank plans [ ... ]
FLAC Volunteer Training event on Legal Aid, Mortgage and Debt Issues and an update on Employment law
[Volunteers] - March 02, 2012
FLAC supports its volunteers through providing training events that are useful during volunteering in our Centres. During our training courses we aim to cover 2 main topics that might come up more frequently in the FLAC centres. We also would like to introduce an agency/ organisation who could briefly introduce [ ... ]
Transgender woman in civil partnership
[Press Release] - February 22, 2012
A transgender woman has officially entered a civil partnership with her female partner in Ireland. The registration ceremony, which took place some time ago, amounts to legal recognition of the woman's acquired gender because the Civil Partnership Act requires that civil partners must be legally of the same sex. We [ ... ]
Legal services reform must not be 'change for the sake of it'
[Press Release] - February 21, 2012
Government proposals to change how legal services are delivered in Ireland do not prioritise access to the legal system and thus will not improve the situation for many people, said legal rights organisation FLAC today." FLAC does not see the Bill increasing access to legal services for non-commercial bodies. It [ ... ]
FLAC reaction to mortgage arrears figures from Central Bank in February 2012
[News] - February 17, 2012
FLAC Press Release Friday 17 February 2012The legal rights organisation FLAC today said that even though the rise in mortgage debt was entirely predictable, there should be no complacency. According to Noeline Blackwell, Director General of FLAC "There is a danger that because they are predictable, we are no longer [ ... ]
Pancake morning in Ringsend - with a twist!
[News] - February 17, 2012
Next Tuesday FLAC, in conjunction with Dublin 2-4-6 Citizens Information Service, are hosting a Pancake Morning with a difference: People coming along to the Ringsend/Irishtown Community Centre from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday 21 February will get some legal information and advice with their pancake.The session will feature:A pop-up advice [ ... ]
Scheme must be fair and effective for personal debt resolution
[Press Release] - February 15, 2012
The proposed new debt resolution scheme must offer a fair and effective way for those who cannot support their enormous debt burdens to deal realistically with their creditors, said legal rights group FLAC today.While welcoming the fact that Government is finally taking action on the personal over-indebtedness crisis, FLAC said [ ... ]
Roscrea FLAC Volunteers Urgently needed for day-time service for women who may be experiencing domestic violence.
[Volunteers] - February 07, 2012
Fully qualified solicitors and barristers are urgently required to volunteer at our FLAC service in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. The volunteers are asked to join a panel to provide first stop legal advice. The clinics take place from 10.00 am til 12.00 noon on the last Wednesday of every month at [ ... ]