Victims cannot pay the price for legal aid dispute – Bacik
Victims cannot pay the price for legal aid dispute – Bacik - The Labour Party
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on the Taoiseach to intervene in the criminal legal aid dispute as solicitors withdraw services in the criminal courts. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Bacik challenged the Taoiseach over the impact on victims and vulnerable people, and demanded that Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan engage meaningfully with the Law Society.
Deputy Bacik said:
“Victims of crime are waiting for cases to progress, arranging childcare and taking time off work, while living with the distress of not knowing when their case will be heard. People facing serious criminal charges are appearing without legal advice. These are the human consequences of this dispute.
“Minister O’Callaghan pressed ahead with changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, despite warnings that his approach failed to account for how the District Court operates. Adjournments can be legally necessary, including in cases involving children or vulnerable people, or where the State has not served the Book of Evidence.
“The Minister could have addressed those concerns through meaningful engagement before introducing the changes. Instead, the dispute has escalated thanks to the Minister’s failure to engage; and vulnerable people are bearing the cost.
“An offer to ‘tweak’ the regulations very late in the day is no substitute for resolving the problems. Labour is calling for the Minister to engage meaningfully now to resolve matters. The Taoiseach must ensure that meaningful talks begin immediately.”