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:

1. 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;
2. 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:

1. The Panel will engage through formal meetings three times a year with further engagement as required;
2. At each meeting the Panel Chairperson will provide a service delivery update on the business of the Board. The Panel will be chaired by Joan Crawford, CEO of the Board and Designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or by his nominee;
3. The Secretary to the Panel will post the agreed agenda and agreed minutes of each meeting on the Board’s website; and
4. 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:

Ms Joan Crawford, Chief Executive, Legal Aid Board
Ms Julie Ahern, Children's Rights Alliance
Ms Deirdre O'Donohoe, 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
Mr Allen Dunne, Disability Federation
Ms Aedamair Gallagher, Law Library/ Council of the Bar of Ireland
Ms Edel Hackett, Safe Ireland
Ms Mary Henderson, Immigrant Council of Ireland
Ms Siun Hurley, O’Donovan Murphy Solicitors/ Law Society
Ms Monica Hynds, Barnardos
Mr Paul Joyce, FLAC
Ms Aoife Kelly Desmond, Mercy Law
Ms Karen Kiernan, One Family
Dr Amie Lajoie, MABS
Ms Jane O'Sullivan, Community Law and Mediation
Ms Stephaine Lord, FLAC
Ms Katie Mannion, Irish Refugee Council
Ms Johanna Martyn, MABS
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 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 Orla O’ Connor National Women’s Council of Ireland
Mr Damien Peelo, Treoir
Ms Edel Quinn, Children’s Rights Alliance
Ms Gayle Smith, Treoir
Ms Susan Shanahan, Citizens Information Board
Ms Linda Smith, Women’s Aid
Mr Dermot Sreenan, MABS
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
Ms Niamh McGuinness, 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:

1. The Name of the Chairperson of the Panel / details of employing Organisation
2. Name of Members / details of employing Organisation
3. Whether any non-public servant members were previously designated public officials
4. Terms of Reference of the Panel
5. Agenda of each meeting
6. 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.

External Consultative Panel

Conduct of business

Composition and membership of the Panel

Procedures

Minutes of Previous Meetings

April 2020 (MS Word Download)

January 2020 (MS Word Download)

July 2019 (MS Word Download)

March 2019 (MS Word Download)

November 2018 (MS Word Download)

July 2018 (MS Word Download)

March 2018 (MS Word Download)

November 2017 (MS Word download)

July 2017 (MS Word download)

March 2017 (MS Word download)