Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said key reforms are needed to the legal aid payment system

Minister, solicitors to hold more talks in legal aid row

by · RTE.ie

Representatives of the Minister for Justice and the Law Society are to hold further discussions over the next week in an effort to find a resolution to the dispute over the new criminal legal aid scheme.

The dispute has been ongoing for four months.

Many criminal defence solicitors have withdrawn their services in protest at the new scheme which provides for a flat fee of €520 per accused person rather than payments per court appearances.

Minister Jim O'Callaghan and his officials met a delegation from the Law Society, led by its president Rosemarie Loftus, this morning to discuss the dispute, which has caused major disruption to the operation of the criminal courts, especially in Dublin.

In a statement, the Law Society said both sides agreed on the need to find a resolution without delay.

It said both sides had also agreed on the need for further engagement between their representatives, beginning on Friday and continuing over the next week.

Rosemary Loftus (C) pictured as she and other solicitors' representatives left the Department of Justice following the meeting with the minister (Pic: Collins)

The society said the engagement between the sides would "explore adjustments to address practitioners' concerns" and would also help to deliver an "effective and sustainable criminal legal aid system".

It said it welcomed the opportunity to meet and make clear the impact of the dispute.

The Law Society said it has set out two issues which if addressed, would resolve solicitors' concerns.

These involve a further payment for more complicated cases, after ten court appearances. They are also proposing separate payments for separate offences committed on separate dates, capped at five per client, per court, per day.

The society said it remains committed to working constructively with the minister and his officials to reach a resolution.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said the engagement over the next week would be "short and focused".

It said it would explore areas for adjustments to address solicitors' concerns while also ensuring the purpose of the reform, which it said was to speed up the resolution of cases and improve the operation of the district court, was preserved.