The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies hosted a seminar on 9th February 2011 at in Stewarts, Palmerstown, Dublin 20, entitled:
Advocacy in Ireland: Changing Times.Standing Beside: Human Rights Principles and International Perspectives on Advocacy
The new National Advocacy Service was established in January 2011, fulfilling the legislative promise as set out in Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide independent, representative advocacy services for people with disabilities. It is managed by five Citizens Information Services and supported by the Citizens Information Board and takes over the work of the 46 pilot advocacy projects, with a particular remit for more vulnerable people with disabilities. The new Service follows many of the recommendations of the Round Table Evaluation Report.
The service is regionally structured with five regional teams to provide a service to people with all types of disability across the country. Each regional team is managed by a particular Citizens Information Service in Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly, Waterford and Leitrim. Teams have a regional manager, a senior advocate and a number of other advocates. In the near future, the enactment of the instrument to legislate for the advocates statutory powers as set out in the above legislation will be agreed.
The seminar which took place on 9th February 2011 provided information and insight into the changing face of advocacy in Ireland. You can download the presentations that were made at the seminar by clicking on the links below: