FLAC has launched their Annual Report 2021 with an event in the Dorset St. offices.
Foreward to the Report by Eilis Barry, FLAC Chief Executive
2021 was an extremely busy and eventful year for FLAC. The ongoing impact of Covid, successful campaign advances, encouraging engagement with civil society, and positive policy and casework outcomes were the themes of the year. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the FLAC Telephone Information and Referral Line is the first, and at times, the only port of call for people seeking legal assistance. While 13,147 callers were provided with legal information on the telephone information line, the overwhelming demand for legal information, advice and advocacy continued to exceed our resources, despite the addition of new staff, further resources and expertise.
We are keenly aware that more callers than we can answer are trying to get through to us. At every opportunity we have sought to highlight that this is a very clear demonstration of the extent of “known” unmet legal need particularly in the areas of family and employment law. We were delighted that the FLAC volunteers who worked so hard, throughout the pandemic, to ensure that people would continue to have access to legal information and basic legal advice, were acknowledged and celebrated at the Volunteer Ireland Awards. Due to their sterling work, the phone legal advice clinics have continued, providing legal advice to 2,729 people with urgent and substantive issues.
In 2021, FLAC engaged with a cross-section of civil society about their experience of the legal aid system. This lead to a campaign by FLAC and 45 NGOs to ensure that vulnerable and marginalised individuals, families and communities can access civil legal aid. We welcomed the Minister for Justice’s commitment to review the legal aid system, published in the Department’s 2021 action plan. This commitment has recently been realised with the establishment of the Civil Legal Aid Review Group, chaired by the Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke, and of which FLAC is also a member. It is a very significant moment in the history of access to justice and we look forward to participating on the review group. Barriers to access to justice require a multifaceted response and FLAC is delighted to continue to engage with the Chief Justice’s Access to Justice Committee.
FLAC also participated in the Access to Justice Conference 2021 and in consultations about the modernisation of the Courts Services and Family Justice system. FLAC welcomed the announcement of a commitment to review Ireland’s Equality legislation made by Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth while delivering the Closing Address at Status Check: 20 Years of the Equal Status Acts, a seminar series organised by FLAC and the Law School at Trinity College Dublin. Together with IHREC, FLAC subsequently launched Equality ACTion, a joint project aimed at strengthening the engagement of civil society with the review. FLAC launched the first three “From Pillar to Post” papers, in a series of four, to highlight concerns and generate debate in relation to the impact of Covid on levels of household debt in Ireland. FLAC’s project PILA continued the development of pro bono work with 110 social justice organisations receiving legal assistance through the pro bono referral scheme. We held the first Pro Bono Pledge Ireland NGO pitch event and a very successful Pro Bono Week.
FLAC’s independent law centre, Traveller legal service and Roma clinic produced significant casework outcomes in the areas of wardship, discrimination and housing, demonstrating the significant unmet legal need faced by people experiencing poverty and disadvantage. It was with great sadness we learned of the death of two great friends of FLAC, Frank Callanan SC, an exceptional lawyer, historian and scholar and Katie Dawson BL, a fierce advocate and a human rights campaigner in child and family law, women’s rights, and LGBTQI+ rights. A very sincere thank you to David Fennelly who took on the role of Chairperson during 2021 and to FLAC Council for their ongoing support and vital hidden work. A special thanks to Julie Herlihy who provides invaluable guidance in relation to finances, and to Joanne Hyde and David for their outstanding work on the Governance sub-committee which led to FLAC declaring compliance with the Charity Regulators Code of Governance.
A huge thanks to FLAC’s expert, committed and excellent staff for their outstanding contribution during an event filled year, the details of which are set out in this report.
Eilis Barry, FLAC Chief Executive
The Report can be read and downloaded by clicking here: https://www.flac.ie/assets/files/pdf/flac_annual_report_2021_final.pdf?issuusl=ignore