The Gazette 1993

GAZETTE

I M N A GEMN JUNE 1993

Solicitors Give £84,000 to Somalia

Call to Government to Extend New Unfair Dismissals Bill The Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) and the Coolock Community Law Centre (CCLC) have called upon the Government to extend the recently published Unfair Dismissals Bill, 1993 so that claimants before the Employment Appeal Tribunal could qualify for assistance under the scheme of civil legal aid and advice The two groups say that claims before the Employment Appeals Tribunal can often include technical points of law making legal representation essential for a claimant. In the last eighteen months both CCLC and FLAC took on over 150 employment law cases, demonstrating a clear need for repre- sentation especially for non unionised employees on low incomes for whom there is no other legal resource. According to FLAC, there are currently more than ten statutes which deal with labour law. As many of the Acts provide for different procedures and provisions anomalies can result. Thus, it can be difficult for claimants to be aware of their rights let alone how to enforce them. The two law centres say that it is disappointing that no attempt has been made in the Bill to consolidate the existing law. Both FLAC and CCLC say that in the course of their work they have frequently encountered the difficulty of enforcing determinations of the Employments Appeals Tribunal where companies have ceased to trade but have not been formally wound up. Again, this problem has been ignored in the new legislation, they say. Under maternity protection legislation, a pregnant employee is required to serve on her employer formal technical notices of intention to return to work. FLAC and CCLC are urging the Government to relax the mandatory nature of these provisions. •

Solicitors contributions have been distributed to aid agencies

Over £84,000 has been contributed to the Solicitors Somalia Fund since it was launched last Autumn. All of the money, comprising contributions from individual solicitors around the country, has been forwarded to the President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary Robinson , for distribution to various aid agencies working in Somalia. In a recent letter to the Director General of the Law Society, President Robinson said: "I have today received a cheque for £17,080.02 from the Incorporated Law Society as the final receipt from the collection on behalf of the people of Somalia. The total contribution in

excess of £84,000 is a magnificent sum and a marvellous reflection on the Society. The earlier monies received were distributed via four of the Irish aid agencies working on the ground; I propose to disperse this latest figure over the next week or ten days and will advise you of how it has been distributed." "I would appreciate it if you could ensure that all those involved realise how much I appreciate their generosity and that the money will be used in the best possible way to benefit the Somali People." • The President concluded by saying:

The money will be used in the best possible way to benefit the Somali people 156