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Judicial Review on Access to Social Welfare Decisions
[News] - August 12, 2010
A Somali refugee has been given leave to apply for judicial review of the failure to give her access to copies of previous social welfare decisions relevant to her case. The woman, who has been recognised as a refugee, is appealing a decision about arrears of Child Benefit and was [ ... ]
No blanket exclusion of deaf jurors but State should go further
[News] - July 14, 2010
On 14 July 2010, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), which represented deaf woman Joan Clarke, welcomed the ruling of the High Court quashing a decision of the Galway County Registrar to "excuse" Ms Clarke from jury service.The High Court said the County Registrar had no power to make such a [ ... ]
Government drops appeal in historic transgender case
[News] - June 21, 2010
Taoiseach to tell Dail Ireland is in breach of rights treatyThe Government has withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of transgender woman Lydia Foy. It has accepted a High Court ruling that Irish law on transgender rights is in breach of the European Convention on Human [ ... ]
Launch of Irish Human Rights Law Review
[News] - May 20, 2010
At an event in Dublin on Thursday 20 May 2010, hosted by the Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), a project of FLAC, the Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, launched a new scholarly review, Irish Human Rights Law Review (IHRLR), to be published on an annual basis by Clarus Press. The IHRLR is [ ... ]
International bodies can protect rights at home
[News] - May 07, 2010
Legal rights organisation FLAC today encouraged people in Ireland to use international legal mechanisms to protect their rights at home.Speaking at a seminar organised by FLAC's Public Interest Law Alliance on international legal procedures, FLAC Director General Noeline Blackwell said: "At a time when human rights standards are under threat, [ ... ]
Public interest law in action: PILA event highlights need to use law to create a more equal society
[News] - April 16, 2010
A conference on Public Interest Law in action taking place today in Dublin discussed how public interest law has been used in Australia and Eastern Europe and the possibility for using it to address deeply embedded inequality in Irish society. Opening the conference, Peter Ward S.C.,chairperson of FLAC, referred to how [ ... ]