Free legal aid for evictions
Mattie McGrath asked for free legal aid for people facing eviction from homes and farms. The Taoiseach said free legal advice was available and would provide a more detailed reply, then added a separate update confirming no rescued migrants were handed to the Libyan coastguard.
In the programme for Government there is a commitment to increasing accessibility to the courts' legal systems. More than 40 years since the introduction of free legal aid, there is still no such option available for Irish families facing eviction from family homes and farms. I note the Josie Airey case was led by Mary Robinson at the time. The situation has led to persons regularly being sent to jail when they will not vacate their homes. We have a housing crisis. When will the Taoiseach introduce free legal aid for these people who are being intimidated by the justice system? They get legal aid in the Supreme Court after having no representation all that time. They get it then because of the Government's fear of the European courts. Will the Taoiseach please introduce free legal aid for these people who are trying to keep roofs over their heads? There are criminals with 40 previous convictions who get free legal aid - sometimes they have 100 previous convictions - yet families trying to keep a roof over their heads cannot get free legal aid.
Comment on this
As I understand it, free legal aid is available from the Government-funded Free Legal Advice Centres for people seeking it but I will get a more detailed answer for the Deputy and supply it to him.
Comment on this
The woman has written to the Taoiseach.