Solicitors who resigned over legal aid row should rethink, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called on solicitors who resigned from the Criminal Legal Aid panel to "rethink and reflect" on their decision, urging them to resume representing people in court. The resignations stem from an escalating dispute over fees following the implementation of a new legal aid payments scheme a fortnight ago.

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I am concerned as I think people should not be withdrawing their services. I would ask those who are to rethink and reflect and to do in my view what there is an obligation to do, and that's represent people in court.

The new system introduces a flat fee of €520 per client, replacing the previous model where solicitors were paid for each court appearance. Under the old system, the first appearance for a single person yielded €239.38, with subsequent hearings earning €59.86. Solicitors at the Criminal Courts of Justice have ceased providing criminal defense services and are refusing to advise suspects detained in garda stations, citing the inadequacy of the new fee structure.

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The system did need reform. Without question it needed reform. There has been engagement - the minister and the department have engaged with the Law Society.

Sinn Féin's Justice Spokesperson, Matt Carthy, highlighted the severe consequences of the solicitors' withdrawal, noting that thousands of criminal cases have been adjourned. He reported that victims are attending court only to be turned away, and individuals who should be in custody are being released on bail, increasing pressure on the prison service. Carthy urged the government to resolve the "chaos in the courts" before the summer recess.

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More importantly, we've now seen thousands of criminal cases adjourned. We've seen victims turning up to court and being turned away, waiting for justice. We've also seen people who should be in custody today being released on bail and at times we've seen remand numbers increase put pressure on our already stretched prison service.

Despite the widespread disruption, the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has maintained a firm stance, stating he will not revoke the new legal aid fees system or yield to political pressure. He acknowledged that the system needed reform due to multiple adjournments and an outdated fee structure, and that engagement with the Law Society has occurred. However, O'Callaghan warned that solicitors attempting to disrupt cases to force a regulatory change would be unsuccessful, though he reserved the right to make "tweaks" to the system.

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Some solicitors think that if they put enough pressure on the system to disrupt cases, that this is going to result in political pressure on me, and I'm going to revoke the regulations. That's not going to happen.