whether it’s non-legal and to support them through the process, to be a listening ear. We also work on policy and advocacy. Our main theme is the right to housing which is gathering momentum and we have published a trilogy of reports on the right to housing, the most recent of which looks at the gap of legal protection as it affects children in homelessness. And finally, we provide training and legal services for organisations that are working in the housing and homelessness sector. What is your role in the organisation? the principle that follows this, indicates in itself the obligation to follow earlier cases. Case law is made with the future in mind. The final decision is often not solely considering the case at hand – the judge may also think about the implications that the judgment will have for individuals in future generations. Countless times have judges been exceptionally cautious in their decision to prevent such things as a “floodgates” argument from arising in future or make a particular effort to clarify a certain principle with the aim of alleviating future problems. This way, the law can advance gradually along a regulated course. The entire aim is to link new issues being raised with old ones being settled, to use previous case law in constant recognition of what is yet to come in the most equitable method of doing justice for all. This system of certainty, stability and uniformity appears to be an infallible method of incorporating centuries of past decisions into modern society in the pursuit of justice with the long-term playing a pivotal part in their decision-making process. Politics may choose the next election but the law decidedly chooses the next generation. The past is drawn upon in the present to improve the future.
Tasin Islam talks with Rebecca Keatinge, Managing Solicitor of the Mercy Law Resource Centre What type of services do the MLRC provide?
I am the managing solicitor. I am responsible for the overall management and the smooth running of the services, and of managing the staff. We have three solicitors, myself included, and three support staff, and we have volunteer administrators. We have a very active board and a number of volunteers who also assist in the day-to-day management. I’m also a solicitor so I would have an active number of cases. I attend the clinics and I’m also primarily responsible for the policy work and communications as well. What do you believe are the causes of rising homelessness in Ireland? That is a very challenging question! When you look at the flow of homelessness from the year before last, the flow comes predominantly from family breakdowns. Now we see families that are coming to homelessness that is being caused by evictions from the private rented sector. Landlords can serve a lawful termination if they’re selling the property, or they’re doing substantial refurbishment, or they have a family member coming in, and there are other causes. Many of the families we’re meeting have been given notice that is lawful and they come to the MLRC. Similarly, for single people, the flow to homelessness comes from the private rented sector. The root of the problem is the lack of supply in the private rented sector. Exiting homelessness is another challenge when there is no housing available. Do you think that current tenancy legislation sufficiently protects tenants? We would like to see a move to a model where there
We are an independent law centre and a registered charity. We provide 5 main services. We provide legal advice for those at risk of homelessness through legal advice clinics and we provide legal representation to those clients that we meet at clinics. We will advocate to local authorities—and bring litigation—if and when needed. We also provide a befriending service. We match our clients to volunteer befrienders to assist them with other supports they may need, The Eagle Gazette Volume 5 Issue 2 · 15
