External Consultative Panel
The Legal Aid Board (“the Board”) established a Consultative Panel a number of years ago. The terms of reference are as follows:
- To provide a forum to enable the Board to keep stakeholders informed and updated on relevant developments in the areas in which the Board has an interest;
- To facilitate stakeholders to provide feedback and assistance to the Board on the Board’s services from the perspective and informed position of the stakeholder.
Conduct of business
The Panel will operate on the following basis:
- The Panel will engage through formal meetings three times a year with further engagement as required;
- At each meeting the Panel Chairperson will provide a service delivery update on the business of the Board. The Panel will be chaired by John McDaid, CEO of the Board and Designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or by his nominee;
- The Secretary to the Panel will post the agreed agenda and agreed minutes of each meeting on the Board’s website; and
- All correspondence in relation to the business of the Panel will be conducted through the Secretary to the Panel.
Composition and membership of the Panel
The External Consultative Panel consists of the following members:
- Mr John McDaid, Chief Executive, Legal Aid Board
- Ms Julie Ahern, Children's Rights Alliance
- Ms Rachel Baldwin, Law Library/ Council of the Bar of Ireland
- Mr Bobby Barbour, Citizens Information Board
- Ms Eilis Barry, FLAC
- Ms Sarah Benson, Women's Aid
- Ms Saoirse Brady, Children's Rights Alliance
- Mr Brian Collins, Irish Refugee Council
- Mr Martin Collins, Pavee Point
- Ms Mary Condell, Sage Advocacy
- Ms Sandra Conway, National Women’s Council of Ireland
- Ms Catherine Cosgrove, Immigrant Council of Ireland
- Ms Gillian Dennehy, Women’s Aid
- Dr Fiona Donson, Traveller Education Justice Project – UCC
- Mr Paul Dornan, Mercy Law
- Ms Aedamair Gallagher, Law Library/ Council of the Bar of Ireland
- Ms Edel Hackett, Safe Ireland
- Ms Mary Henderson, Immigrant Council of Ireland
- Ms Clodagh Hopkins, O’Connor Solicitors/ Law Society
- Ms Monica Hynds, Barnardos
- Mr Paul Joyce, FLAC
- Ms Aoife Kelly Desmond, Mercy Law
- Ms Karen Kiernan, One Family
- Mr Gary Lee, Ballymun Community Law Centre
- Ms Stephaine Lord, FLAC
- Ms Katie Mannion, Irish Refugee Council
- Ms Johanna Martyn, MABS
- Mr Christopher McCann, FLAC
- Ms Susan McCormack, National Women’s Council of Ireland
- Ms Andrea McDermott, Men’s Aid
- Ms Mary McDermott, Safe Ireland
- Ms Sinéad McGarrigle, Mercy Law
- Ms Geralyn McGarry, Citizens Information Board
- Ms Rachel Moran, MABS
- Ms Ciara Murphy, Law Library/ Council of the Bar of Ireland
- Mr Seán Ó hUallacháin S.C., Council of the Bar of Ireland
- Ms Joan O’Mahony, Law Society and O’Mahony’s Solicitors
- Mr Ger O’Brien, MABS
- Ms Annmarie O’Connor, MABS
- Ms Orla O’ Connor National Women’s Council of Ireland
- Mr Damien Peelo, Treoir
- Ms Edel Quinn, Children’s Rights Alliance
- Ms Mary Roche, Treoir
- Ms Susan Shanahan, Citizens Information Board
- Ms Linda Smith, Women’s Aid
- Ms Rose Wall, Community Law and Mediation
- Ms Eavan Ward, Women’s Aid
- Ms Tanya Ward, Children’s Rights Alliance
- Ms Samantha Williams, Traveller Education Justice Project – UCC
- Ms Fiona Wright, Courts Service
- Mr Tomás Keane, Secretary to the Panel, Legal Aid Board
Procedures
In light of the requirement for transparency under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 the Board will provide the following information on its website:
- The Name of the Chairperson of the Panel / details of employing Organisation
- Name of Members / details of employing Organisation
- Whether any non-public servant members were previously designated public officials
- Terms of Reference of the Panel
- Agenda of each meeting
- Minutes of each meeting
Minutes of Previous Meetings
In accordance with the terms of reference of the Panel, agreed minutes of previous meetings are available to download here.
February 2021 (MS Word Download)
October 2020 (MS Word Download)
September 2020 (MS Word Download)
July 2020 (MS Word Download)
