The Bar of Ireland provides pro-bono advocacy training to charities in ‘Speaking for Ourselves’ workshop

Focus Ireland, St. Vincent de Paul, Pavee Point and Plan International were amongst 16 of charities, NGOs and civic society groups that attended an Advocacy Training Workshop for Charites ‘Speaking for Ourselves’ held by The Bar of Ireland today.

Assisting voluntary sector increasingly important to address State-support deficit

November 12, 2015: Focus Ireland, St. Vincent de Paul, Pavee Point and Plan International were amongst 16 of charities, NGOs and civic society groups that attended an Advocacy Training Workshop for Charites ‘Speaking for Ourselves’ held by The Bar of Ireland today.

Providing guidance on law reform and the legislative process is just one aspect of the pro-bono assistance provided to groups from the voluntary sector by barristers under The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS). It also provides assistance to charities on a wide range of legal areas including debt and housing, landlord and tenant issues, social welfare appeals, and employment and equality law.

David Barniville, SC, Chairman of The Council of The Bar of Ireland said; “We believe that everyone should have equal access to justice, but unfortunately vulnerable and less well-off members of society often find it harder to navigate the legal system for various reasons.  While there are State-run initiatives, they are increasingly insufficient to meet growing needs and – working with charities through our VAS – we strive to do what we can to address the deficit.”

Addressing the workshop were barristers Michael Cush SC, Mary Rose Gearty SC, Bairbre O’Neill, BL, Turlough O’Donnell SC, Aoife Carroll BL and Michael Lynn SC. Officials from the Houses of the Oireachtas Brid Dunne and Alan Guidon also presented on the workings of Dáil and Seanad Eireann, and in particular how to engage with the Joint Oireachtas Committees. 

Diane Duggan, BL, the coordinator of the Voluntary Assistance Scheme, said; “Access to justice is a core fundamental right, not a privilege. However, it is a principal that countries right around the world continue to struggle with. We make every service barristers ordinarily provide to clients available to charities through the VAS scheme in order to support and empower people who are marginalised or disadvantaged in any way.”

Focus Ireland was one of the charities participating in the Workshop today. As one of the leading charities in Ireland working with people who are homeless or are at risk of losing their homes, advocacy is an important part of its work. Director of Advocacy with Focus Ireland Mike Allen said; “Making legislative recommendations to Government and advising people with tenancy problems is very much part of our day to day work at Focus Ireland, however as we’re a charity our ability to commission professional legal services is limited so we greatly appreciate the support from members of The Bar of Ireland through its VAS Scheme.”

For more information on The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS) see www.lawlibrary.ie. Requests for support through VAS must be made through a voluntary organisation, applications cannot be accepted from individuals.  Throughout the process, the organisation remains involved as The Bar of Ireland’s point of contact for that individual.

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Biography – Diane Duggan BL, coordinator of the Voluntary Assistance Scheme

Diane Duggan BL is Junior Council at The Bar of Ireland. In addition to being the coordinator of The Bar of Ireland’s Voluntary Assistance Scheme, she is also; Chairperson of the Mental Health Tribunals; a Board member of Community Law and Mediation (Coolock);  legal advisor and volunteer with SERVE in solidary (Ireland), a development education initiative that provides opportunities for Irish people to assist in development projects in Ireland and overseas (She has volunteered in the Philippines and Brazil as part of her work with SERVE); and she previously acted as legal advisor to both Focus Ireland and the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC). 

To arrange an interview with Diane Duggan BL contact Sinéad McGovern, Q4PR, (087) 6411725