Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

Lobbying Organisation Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

Date published 18 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details The General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill

Intended results To outline FLAC’s concerns about the barriers to justice which may be imposed by the Bill as presently drafted and our recommendations for the Bill, as well as to seek consultation about the Bill and judicial review

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Eilis Barry, Christopher Bowes, Fiona Donson, Colm OHalloran

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)

Letter sent by email on 6 May 2026 to the Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

Email (11-20)

Emails (and letters sent by email) to the office of the Minister for Justice to invite him to launch the FLAC 2025 Annual Report and to arrange for his attendance at the report launch and related matters date 17 and 29 June and 1, 7, 8 10 and 14 July.

Meeting (1)

Remarks made by (and discussion with the Minister by) Eilis Barry and Fiona Donson at the FLAC Annual Report Launch on 12 July 2026.

Email (1)

Letter sent by email on 30 July 2026 to the Minister for Justice

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Deputy Carthy in Leinster House attended by Eilis Barry, Christopher Bowes & Colm O'Halloran.

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)

Jim O'Callaghan Minister (Department of Justice)