Latest News, Issues & Events

1. “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 …
2. 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 …
3. 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 …
4. FLAC welcomes comments from President Connolly regarding civil legal aid, “unmet legal need” and the “many barriers that remain to be overcome” in achieving access to justice in Ireland Issued 29 April 2026 President Catherine Connolly spoke yesterday (28 April) at the launch of the first Dublin branch of the University of Galway Business and Law Alumni. FLAC welcomes her …
5. Government’s judicial review reform proposals could block constitutional challenges & cases about access to basic public services, FLAC warns Justice Committee Issued 24 March 2026 FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) has appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs & Migration this afternoon (24 March) as part of the …
6. FLAC: This International Women’s Day we need Access to Justice to make Women’s Rights Real and Effective #IWD2026 Issued 4 March 2026 In advance of International Women’s Day 2026, FLAC has written to members of the Oireachtas to highlight the barriers to justice faced by women in Ireland, including a …
7. Deaf man receives landmark award from WRC for disability discrimination by the National Council for Special Education Issued 18 February 2026 Noel O’Connell (a deaf man represented by FLAC) has succeeded in a disability discrimination complaint against the National Council for Special Education (‘NCSE’) under …
8. Urgent reform needed to avoid the collapse of Ireland’s system of Civil Legal Aid during 2026, FLAC tells Oireachtas Justice Committee Issued 17 February 2026 FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) has appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs & Migration this afternoon (17 February) as part of the …
9. Major FLAC & TCD Law School Conference on Civil Legal Aid: FLAC highlights “deepening of access to justice crisis” and risk of collapse of Legal Aid services during 2026 Issued 12 January 2026 FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) and the Law School at Trinity College Dublin will hold a major day-long conference, titled Civil Legal Aid: From Review to Reform, …
10. Season's Greetings from FLAC! Issued 17 December 2025 Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year to all our friends, colleagues and service users from FLAC staff and council! Our Phone Advice Clinics will …
11. Renowned Human Rights Lawyer and Academic Professor Colm Ó Cinnéide to deliver Annual FLAC Justice Lecture, alongside a reading by Stephen Rea from Daniel O’Connell’s speeches Issued 8 December 2025  FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) will hold its Annual Justice Lecture at 6:30pm on Monday, 8th December 2025 in the King’s Inns, Constitution Hill, Dublin 7. …
12. FLAC welcomes the publication and recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee Report which adopts our call for comprehensive new equality laws. Issued 10 October 2025   The Joint Committee on Children and Equality has published their Report on the Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) …
13. Tomás Heneghan receives prestigious UL Alumni Award; Over half a million graduates have gained Seanad voting rights as a result of Mr Heneghan’s Supreme Court case Issued 26 September 2025 Mr Tomás Heneghan has received the prestigious University of Limerick Alumni Award in recognition of his contribution to Irish society and democracy. FLAC (Free Legal Advice …
14. WRC orders Beauty Salon to pay compensation for discrimination against Traveller family Issued 7 August 2025 The WRC has issued decisions in discrimination cases taken against a beauty salon by a Traveller mother and her two daughters (who were represented in their cases by FLAC). …
15. Publication of Civil Legal Aid Review reports is a “landmark opportunity” for access to justice in Ireland; FLAC calls for implementation of Minority Report recommendations Issued 24 July 2025 The Minister for Justice has published the reports arising from the Review of the Scheme of Civil Legal Aid. FLAC campaigned for the review, which is the first comprehensive …