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
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 comments about the recent review of the civil legal aid scheme and continuing unmet legal needs. It has called on the Government to take urgent action to reform the scheme of civil legal aid.
In her speech, President Connolly highlighted the “publication of the long-awaited ‘Review of Legal Aid’ last July” and the “the unmet legal needs which unfortunately continue to exist” in Ireland. She cited research which is included in the Civil Legal Aid Minority Report about the cost of not addressing unmet legal need for individuals and society.
“The review comprehensively lays out the barriers to justice and the costs of not providing access to justice. It is crystal clear from the research presented that it is the vulnerable who suffer the most when deprived of access to justice. In this context, World Bank research states that ‘access to justice is no less important to equitable and sustainable economic development than good schools, functioning hospitals and passable roads.’
President Connolly noted that the “Review of Civil Legal Aid …came on foot of criticism [of Ireland’s system of civil legal aid] from a number of quarters, including eight international human rights organisations.” She highlighted the human rights protections which apply in Ireland under European and international law, and the requirement for the State to provide civil legal aid under the European Convention on Human Rights:
The Constitution, however, does not exist in a vacuum, but is part of an array of international conventions, courts and infrastructure, including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Justice and international human rights bodies. These entities, one way or another, have had a very significant and profound effect on our own legislation and on Government policy.
Indeed, there have been a number of landmark judgments on a range of human rights issues such as access to legal aid…There is no doubt that the law can be used as a positive force for change.”
The President highlighted the positive impact on civil society organisations such as FLAC and independent and community law centres in promoting access to justice in Ireland:
“Significantly, and very helpfully, we have a number of organisations such as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Free Legal Advice Centre, and independent and community law centres throughout the country who do enormous work, continuously highlighting the gap between our Constitutional provisions and the lived experience of many.”
FLAC Chief Executive, Eilis Barry, welcomed the comments made by President Connolly and stated:
“The President’s comments could not be more timely and welcome. It has now been over a year since the reports from the Civil Legal Aid review were submitted to the Minister for Justice. As the Chief Justice commented in January, at a joint FLAC/ TCD law school conference on reform of the legal aid system, reform of the civil legal aid system is “frustratingly slow”. We are disappointed that there has been no progress on reforming the civil legal aid system nor has any timeline been provided by government for responding to the reports and reforming the civil legal aid system. Urgent action from Government is needed to avoid a collapse of the civil legal aid system.
Ireland’s system of civil legal aid is in crisis and at risk of collapse. We need action on the review as a matter of urgency."
ENDS