Launch of The New Law and Family Mediation Centre in Galway (Woodquay)

A dhaoine uasile, a chairde,

Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an Aire, Maor Gaillimhe, Cathaoirleach & ball an Bhoird, aíonna agus ball fiorne.

Is cúis mhór athais dom a bheith anseo inniu libh in Gaillimh chun an oifig (comhlonnaithe) nua a oscailt.

I am truly delighted to welcome you here today as we officially open the Legal Aid Board’s new Law and Family Mediation Centre in Woodquay, in the heart of Galway, the city of the Tribes. It is known by that name, due to the 14 merchant families who dominated its life in the Middle Ages.  Families with names such as Blake, Browne, Joyce, and Darcy, names that still permeate the city and are commemorated in street names and landmarks in the area. This city, shaped by the legacy of the 14 Tribes and their resilience, has always stood proudly for community, culture, and identity. It is fitting that we are opening a centre dedicated to access to justice in a place defined by a strong and enduring sense of identity and collective purpose.

We are honoured to be joined by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, who has officially launched this new centre.

I am also pleased that the Mayor of Galway City, Mr Mike Cubbard, is with us today, and I want to acknowledge his strong support for local services and for the people of Galway.

To all our distinguished guests, representatives of local government, the judiciary, An Garda Síochána, and community organisations, thank you for your presence. Your attendance reflects the importance of today’s event and the value of the work carried out by our staff in the Legal Aid Board.

This new Woodquay facility brings together, under one roof, a full suite of civil legal aid and family mediation services; services that are vital for many people who face complex, stressful and often deeply personal legal challenges. It also incorporates the services previously delivered by the Law Centre Galway in Seville House, ensuring continuity for clients while giving us the capacity to serve even more people across the city and county.

Galway, like many places in Ireland suffered at the hands of conquests, particularly in Cromwellian times.  The word Tribe was used as a derogatory term by those who attacked the City, so as an act of defiance, the merchant families adopted the title of “The Tribes of Galway”.  Conflict destroyed the power those families once held, but the spirit and identity of the Tribes remained central to the city’s cultural life, a legacy that continues today, reflected most recently in Galway’s role as European Capital of Culture in 2020.

We all are aware of the radical change in the world order that is of grave concern to those who believe in equality, human rights and fair process.  The depth of concern is not reflected in the actions and words of some of those in powerful positions who represent and reflect a different position.  The more that is left unchallenged gives those who oppress others the notion that they can go further with their agenda and that the law and international agreements do not apply to them.   This unwillingness to shout stop to oppressive processes is driven by fear and fear has wider consequences.

As the writer Custine wrote, after travelling through Russia in 1839, the consequence of fear is paralysis of thought and ultimately submission.  People develop a serf like mentality, and the question is who will rise above the glory of one single man to speak for humanity against autocracy.  The recent speech of Canadian Prime Minister Carney at Davos, gave some hope that there is another way and those middle powers can work together to counter the rise of hard power and maintain values like human rights and sovereignty.

We live in a world where conflict, whether geopolitical or personal, seems ever‑present. But conflict does not only occur on the world stage. It happens within families, within communities, and at moments of vulnerability in people’s lives.

Our role in the Legal Aid Board is fundamentally about resolving conflict. Whether through a negotiated settlement by our solicitors or an agreement reached through mediation, we help people find a path forward that avoids the bitterness, delay and expense of prolonged disputes.

This is why mediation is such an integral part of what we do. Our family mediation service, now co‑located here in this new centre, offers families a space to have difficult conversations in a respectful, structured, and confidential way. The Legal Aid Board is committed to increasing the awareness of mediation as a first step to resolving conflict in family breakup situations, and we are committed to providing the resources to do so by training our own mediators as we have done in the past.  We are continuing to invest in mediation, including in child‑inclusive mediation, and I have recently sanctioned the recruitment of six new trainee mediators to support this important work.

We believe that we can make a real difference in keeping people out of the court system and into a non-conflictual arrangement that suits their own particular circumstances. The phased implementation of the Courts Act from next year will allow us do things better by introducing more court-based mediation services which have proved very successful in other locations like Dolphin House in Dublin.

It must be acknowledged that some matters need to go to Court and I want to recognise the professionalism of our solicitors in dealing with sensitive and difficult matters.  Some of the more recent casework that is being dealt with by the Legal Aid Board is that of Assisted Decision Making, Civil Restraining Orders, and Section 19 (a) matters dealing with the release of counselling notes in cases involving alleged victims of sexual violence.

Of course, buildings do not deliver services, people do.  Across our organisation of nearly 600 staff nationwide, our people adapt, learn, and deliver. With each new area of work that comes our way, our solicitors and staff meet the challenge and become experts in the subject area while dealing with existing priority work and the usual applications that come in each day. 

And so, I want to particularly thank our local managers, Cormac and Keave, and all the staff here in Galway. Their professionalism, empathy, and dedication ensure that our clients feel heard, supported, and represented. This work is not always easy, but it is always important.

The staff here in Galway and in our other centres know the benefits of conflict resolution.  They continue to work to uphold human rights, equality, and the right of citizens and the communities they serve and in no small way are a shining light for those who need our services. 

The Legal Aid Board will never shy away from challenging inequality or speaking up for those whose voices are not always heard. This work would not be possible without the partnership and support of the Department of Justice, local community organisations, the courts, private practitioners, and many others across Galway and beyond.

Today’s opening is a testament to that shared commitment.

To the Minister, the Mayor, our distinguished guests, our partners, and especially our staff, thank you for joining us and for your ongoing support.

This new centre will serve as a beacon for those who need legal and mediation support at some of the most difficult moments in their lives. We are proud of what has been achieved, and we look forward to strengthening our services for the people of Galway in the years ahead.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.