Latest News, Issues & Events

1. WRC Discrimination Case: Boots is liable for actions of security guard who excluded Roma woman from shop; ordered to pay compensation and provide equality training Issued 25 September 2026 Claudia Tanase (a Roma woman represented by FLAC) has succeeded in a discrimination complaint against Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited under the Equal Status Acts. At the …
2. “Budget 2027 must deliver comprehensive Civil Legal Aid Reform”: 60-strong Coalition calls on Justice Minister to establish a fit-for-purpose, comprehensively reformed, properly-resourced civil legal aid system Issued 24 September 2026 In a petition delivered to the Department of Justice today (24 September), 60 signatories are calling on the Minister for Justice to ensure that Budget 2027 provides the …
3. FLAC extends condolences to family, friends and colleagues of James MacGuill SC Issued 7 September 2026 FLAC was saddened to learn of the death of James MacGuill SC. In the 1980s, James was a FLAC Council member and ran a FLAC Clinic. James was a fearless, groundbreaking and …
4. Coalition calls on Government to make civil legal aid reform a Budget 2027 priority Issued 4 September 2026 A coalition of organisations representing those who rely on, work within and advocate for Ireland’s civil legal aid system today called on Government to make meaningful …
5. 20 years since the Civil Legal Aid means test was last updated. Issued 1 September 2026 Today marks 20 years since the Civil Legal Aid means test was last updated. Since 1 September 2006, the disposable income limit for access to civil legal aid has been set at …
6. UN Human Rights Review: FLAC and ICCL highlight risk of backsliding on human rights and equality in Ireland Issued 25 August 2026 FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) and ICCL (the Irish Council for Civil Liberties) have raised serious concerns about human rights and equality in Ireland in advance of the …
7. FLAC welcomes the Minister for Justice’s explicit commitments to civil legal aid reform and additional funding for the Civil Legal Aid scheme. Issued 15 July 2026 The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan TD launched FLAC’s 2025 Annual Report – Making the Case for Change – on Monday, 13 July. In his remarks at the launch event, …
8. Legal NGO FLAC launches Annual Report; Reports a 10-year high in legal queries answered by its phoneline and calls for urgent action in response to the deepening “legal aid crisis” Issued 13 July 2026 Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD launched FLAC’s 2025 Annual Report, titled “Making the Case for Change” on Monday, 13 July 2026.  FLAC (Free Legal Advice …
9. Independent Law Centres warn that last-minute amendments to Housing Bill will deprive homeless people of access to emergency shelter and leave them at risk of destitution Issued 8 July 2026 Five of Ireland’s Independent Law Centres have expressed their serious concerns about Report Stage amendments to the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous …
10. FLAC welcomes Oireachtas Committee’s call for “urgent reform of the Civil Legal Aid system”; Minister must take action amidst “warnings that the system could collapse” Issued 2 July 2026 FLAC has welcomed the publication of the Oireachtas Justice Committee’s Report on Civil Legal Aid which highlights a “a serious and growing [civil legal aid] crisis”. …
11. FLAC calls on Minister to carry out a major redraft of controversial Judicial Review Bill in light of Oireachtas Justice Committee report recommendations, and to undertake consultation and research before any changes proceed Issued 26 June 2026 FLAC has welcomed the publication of the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs & Migration’s Report on Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Civil …
12. Joint Statement - Independent Law Centres express “grave concerns” about rushed Housing Bill which could result in a rise in Homelessness & Rough-Sleeping Issued 10 June 2026 Five of Ireland’s Independent Law Centres have written to the Minister for Housing and the Oireachtas Housing Committee to express their serious concerns about the Housing …
13. “Hands Off the Referee”: Civil society says political pressure on human rights courts risks damaging the ECHR system Issued 15 May 2026 Civil society organisations in the UK and Ireland are concerned that the new Council of Europe political declaration on migration released on the 15th May at a Council of …
14. Groups North and South of Ireland Unite to Warn UK and Ireland Against Weakening Human Rights Issued 12 May 2026 Groups North and South of Ireland Unite to Warn UK and Ireland Against Weakening Human Rights: Joint letter sent to UK Prime Minister and Irish Taoiseach ahead of Council of …
15. FLAC notes proposed changes to forthcoming judicial review Bill; however significant concerns remain Issued 5 May 2026 FLAC had raised concerns that the proposals in the General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill constitute a radical curtailment of access to judicial review, and are likely to …