Call for mediator to help resolve legal aid dispute
The Law Society of Ireland is calling for an independent mediator to resolve a dispute over a new criminal legal aid payment scheme. Solicitors argue the flat-fee structure fails to account for the complexity of cases and has led to a significant drop in legal aid certificates.
Why it matters
The impasse is causing nationwide court disruptions and raising concerns about the administration of justice and access to legal representation for vulnerable individuals.
The president of the Law Society has called for an independent mediator to be appointed to help resolve the dispute over the new criminal legal aid scheme.
Rosemarie Loftus has also told Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan that she was surprised by his recent comment that the courts were functioning effectively and said the current impasse was having "a profound impact on the administration of justice".
The dispute over the new flat fee payment scheme for criminal defence solicitors has caused nationwide disruption to court hearings and led to the majority of defence solicitors withdrawing their services.
Ms Loftus said she was surprised by the minister's comment in light of "deeply worrying" and "stark" figures for July which show the number of legal aid certificates issued in July has fallen by 93% compared to the same month last year.
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