News
Appointment of the new Legal Aid Board - 10 November 2021
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The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today announced the appointment of Nuala Jackson SC as Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board for the period 2021 to 2026. Ms. Jackson served as an ordinary member of the outgoing Legal Aid Board.
The Minister also announced the appointment of six new members of the Board, and the re-appointment of six of the outgoing members of the previous Board which served from 2016-2021, in addition to Ms Jackson.
The Minister said:
"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Nuala Jackson SC as Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board. Ms. Jackson has a detailed understanding of the issues and challenges facing those who require access to justice, but are of limited means. She has a distinguished track record as a senior counsel and has brought this valued experience to bear in her role as an ordinary member of the outgoing Legal Aid Board.
"I have every confidence that Ms. Jackson will lead the Legal Aid Board effectively in what will be a period of significant developments, including the forthcoming Review of Civil Legal Aid which my department will shortly commence. I also congratulate the new members of the Board and wish them well in what will be a challenging but rewarding role."
The Minister continued:
"I wish to express my deep gratitude to Philip O'Leary, the outgoing Chairperson of the Board, and the outgoing members of the Board: who led the organisation effectively through their term of office. In particular I wish to pay tribute to the work that was done to maintain the availability of the Board's services to vulnerable clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wish them well in their future endeavours."
Nuala Jackson, Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board, said:
"I am delighted to be appointed as Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board and for the opportunity to lead this organisation. I have seen at first hand the contribution of the Legal Aid Board to its clients, to the administration of justice, and to society in Ireland. In providing access to justice to thousands of people each year, the Board represents an essential building block of a democratic State.
"It has made considerable progress in recent years in areas such as the co-location of legal aid and mediation services, the delivery of consultations via technology, and the gradual reduction in the numbers waiting for a first appointment. I will seek to build on these achievements with the incoming Board and with the Chief Executive John McDaid, with particular emphasis on making a significant and meaningful contribution to the forthcoming Review of Civil Legal Aid, the delivery of an effective and efficient service to clients, and the successful integration of new services which the Board may be required to provide in the coming years."
The new appointees to the Legal Aid board are:
The re-appointed members of the Legal Aid Board:
The Legal Aid Board (“the Board”) is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (the “Act”). The Act was amended by Section 54 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 which gave the Board the additional responsibility to provide a family mediation service.
Under the Act, the Minister for Justice appoints a Chairperson and twelve ordinary members of the Board, who serve a five year term of office. Under the Act, two members of the Board shall be barristers who have been engaged in practice as such for a period of not less than 7 years prior to their appointment, and two shall be solicitors who have been engaged in practice for a similar period. In addition, two members of the Board shall be members of the staff of the Board.
The Act contains a specific gender balance provision which states that not less than 5 shall of the Board members shall be men, and not less than 5 shall be women. The term of office of a member of the Board shall be not more than 5 years and no person shall be appointed a member of the Board for more than 2 terms.