FLAC Director General Noeline Blackwell to leave post

22 January 2016

Legal rights group FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) today announced the departure of its Director General, Noeline Blackwell. She has led the organisation since 2005.

FLAC Chairperson Peter Ward SC said “Noeline Blackwell has made a deeply significant and lasting contribution to the development of FLAC as an organisation and more widely to the promotion of equal access to justice in Ireland. During her ten years as Director General, she has helped FLAC bring a spotlight on the legal issues impacting on the poorest and most marginalised people in Irish society.”

Added Mr Ward: “Noeline’s time in FLAC coincided with Ireland’s plunge into deep recession and she ensured that FLAC responded to the legal needs of so many in Irish society who faced unemployment, unsustainable debt, inadequate social welfare provision and poverty. Noeline has been a committed and tireless advocate on behalf of people in this country, managing an expert team of staff at head office while also supporting the expansion of our voluntary advice services throughout the country.

“We wish to thank Noeline for her outstanding work and commitment to our organisation and wish her every success and fulfilment in the new challenge she is now undertaking.”

Noeline will continue in her post at FLAC until the end of February, when she will take up her new role as CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. 

 

/ENDS

 

Editors’ notes:

1. FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is a human rights organisation which exists to promote equal access to justice for all. As an NGO, FLAC relies on a combination of statutory funding, contributions from the legal professions and donations from individuals and grant-making foundations to support its work.
2. FLAC offers basic legal information through its telephone information line (1890 350 250) and free legal advice through its network of 80 volunteer evening advice centres – more at www.flac.ie/help/.  It also campaigns on a range of issues including consumer credit, personal debt, fairness in social welfare law, public interest law and civil legal aid. FLAC has issued numerous analyses and policy statements calling for a fairer mortgage arrears resolution process.