The Gazette 1992

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GAZETTE N W DECEMBER 1992
F LAC survives to fight another year
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
'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, FLAC •
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.
• CORPORATE L AW
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• D I VORCES
• I MM I GRAT I ON 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:
Fax:
412