Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

Lobbying Organisation Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

Date published 21 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Review of the Scheme of Civil Legal Aid

Intended results 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.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Eilis Barry, Christopher Bowes and Colm O'Halloran

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Email sent to Oireachtas Justice Committee detailing the crisis in Civil Legal Aid and requesting a meeting with the Committee. Email sent on the Wednesday 8th October 2025. Response from the Committee received on Wednesday 15th October.

Email (6-10)

Letters sent to Jim O'Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs & Migration, by email on 8 and 30 October 2025. Follow-up emails sent on 12, November, 4 December, 5 December, and 8 December 2025.

Event / Reception (1)

Met the Minister at an event in the Department of Justice on 5 November

Email (11-20)

Letter by Email to Senator Tom Clonan (7/11/25). Letter by Email to Senator Lynn Ruane (7/11/25). Email to members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee (28/11/25) Letter by email to Angela Denning, CEO of the Courts Service (7/11/25)

Email (1)

Follow up email sent to Justice Committee regarding a meeting about Civil Legal Aid.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

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)