The Gazette 1992

GAZETTE

DECEMBER 1992

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F LAC survives to fight another year

'A Guide to Claims and Appeals." These guides have proved very popular and we hope to be able to produce further titles in the series next year. In the area of research we have recently completed a study of access to the courts in four European countries with special emphasis of the legal aid systems in each jurisdiction. FLAC was also contracted by the Commission of the EC to investigate the legal instruments in operation in Ireland to combat racism. FLAC has an essential role to play in the provision of legal services and the campaign to improve legal aid. This work requires the encouragement and help of the legal profession and we thank you for your continued support over the years.

Sabha Greene Information Officer of FLAC reports on its activities in 1992. The Free Legal Advice Centres began the year in a financial crisis which threatened closure. Having launched a ma j or appeal for f unds we were overwhelmed with the response we received and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those members of the profession who gave so generously. As part of the appeal FLAC called on the Depa r tment of Justice for support and, as a result, for the first time in 12 years we received a grant of £40,000 which will meet half of our running costs. This year, as before, the FLAC helpline continues to provide an essential advice and referral service. In the period J a nu a ry to September, 1992 we dealt with nearly 4,000 calls. Many more queries are handled by volunteers in our 16 evening clinics in and around Dublin and Co r k. Representation in social welfare appeals and Employment Appeals Tribunal cases remains a large part of our work and the latest figures show that we have acted in over a 100 such cases this year. Furthermore, the High Court action on behalf of 1,800 married women to recover arrears of social welfare due under an EC Equality Directive is still ongoing, as are other High Court actions. As part of our campaigning work, in March and J une we highlighted the chronic waiting lists for legal aid around the country, more than a year in some areas. In response to this situation FLAC participated in the establishment of the Alliance for Civil Legal Aid. This is a coalition of women's, church, trade union, and several anti-poverty groups, launched in September with the objective of placing civil legal aid firmly on the political agenda. FLAC has always maintained an emphasis on the training of local welfare advisors and this year we

have organised several highly successful courses for welfare rights groups setting up advice services. These courses are intended to provide a broad knowledge of family law, social welfare, consumer rights, housing and labour law. Also, as part of the National Social Service Board's nationwide training programme, FLAC was invited to run two full day courses on the Social Welfare Appeals system. The effectiveness of new legislation in the area of employment was the theme of a seminar organised jointly by FLAC and the trade union, Ma nu f a c t u r i ng Science Finance, during the sunner. The 1990 part - time workers legislation, the enforcement of employment decisions and the 1991 Payment of Wages Act were considered. Publications this year included the third in our series of h a n d b o o ks on social welfare "A Guide to Family Payments," and a second edition of

Sabha Greene, Information Officer, FLAC

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DENIS C. GUERIN New York Attorney at Law Native of Killarney, Co. Kerry Member of the Law Society of Ireland Wi l l i ng t o act as y our agent in t he Un i t ed S t a t es of Ame r i ca • PERSONAL INJURY Auto accidents

Medical malpractice Defective products e.g. Silicone breast implants, Copper 7 I.U.D.

etc.

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CORPORATE L AW

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PROPERTY TRANSACT I ONS

D I VORCES

WI L LS

• etc. We can represent you anywhere in the United States Addres s: 25, West 39th Street, New York, New York 10018, U.S.A. Tel: 001-212-398-9238. Fax: 001-212-391-6917. I MM I GRAT I ON

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