Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: To express FLAC's concerns about to potential political declaration on the ECHR and to request a meeting. The political declarations referred to were proposed by a number of Council of Europe members states and seek to emphasise how States expect rights to be applied in practice, particularly in migration cases. FLAC is concerned at any declaration which could potentially weaken the protections provided by the ECHR.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Andrew Munro (Assistant Secretary), Department of Justice; Paula Butterly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tom Brabazon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gary Gannon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Kelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Garret Kelleher (Senator), Seanad; Michael McDowell (Senator), Seanad; Anne Rabbitte (Senator), Seanad; Lynn Ruane (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To outline FLAC's recommendations concerning civil legal aid reform

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: To outline FLAC's views to the Minister

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Andrew Munro (Assistant Secretary), Department of Justice

Intent: To express FLAC's concerns and recommendations about proposed judicial review reforms.

Methods: MeetingEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paula Butterly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tom Brabazon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gary Gannon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Kelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Garret Kelleher (Senator), Seanad; Michael McDowell (Senator), Seanad; Anne Rabbitte (Senator), Seanad; Lynn Ruane (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To engage with the Oireachtas Committee in relation to FLAC's concerns about the General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: To lobby Oireachtas members for change in the civil legal aid system and for change in Ireland's equality legislation.

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paula Butterly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Tom Brabazon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gary Gannon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Kelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Garret Kelleher (Senator), Seanad; Michael McDowell (Senator), Seanad; Anne Rabbitte (Senator), Seanad; Lynn Ruane (Senator), Seanad; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Angela Denning (Chief Executive Officer), The Courts Service

Intent: A meeting with the Oireachtas Justice Committee regarding Civil Legal Aid.::To receive an update on civil legal aid reform and to request that the Minister would speak at a FLAC and TCD legal aid conference in January 2026.::To request recipients attendance at/participation in the FLAC and TCD Law School Conference on Civil Legal Aid reform in January 2026.

Methods: EmailEvent / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Andrew Munro (Assistant Secretary), Department of Justice

Intent: To seek information around the scope of the Bill and the timeframe for its drafting and publication, and to express FLAC's views regarding the process which should be followed in this regard.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Carol Baxter (Assistant Secretary), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Intent: To brief the Department on the need for enhanced funding in this area and to request additional funding.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Oonagh McPhillips (Secretary General), Department of Justice

Intent: Increased funding for FLAC in Budget 2026.

Methods: Email