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I
M
N
A
GEMN
JUNE 1993
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.
•
GAZETTE
Solicitors Give £84,000 to Somalia
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."
The President concluded by saying:
"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 money will be used in the best possible way to benefit the Somali people
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