Striking solicitors a disgrace - Shatter

SEANAD REPORT:THE SOLICITORS and barristers who went on strike on Thursday over cuts in the criminal legal aid budget are a "disgrace", Minister for Justice Alan Shatter told the Seanad yesterday.

Mr Shatter said some of those involved in the strike had been paid “enormous fees” over the last couple of years.

He told Senators it was “curious” that those in a leadership role in the Criminal Law Practitioners Organisation (CLPO) were among the best paid solicitors and barristers in the State from legal aid.

He detailed one individual solicitor who earned €4 million, a solicitor’s firm that had earned €2 million in fees and another that earned €1.8 million over the course of four years from the criminal legal aid scheme.

“In the current financial climate, where that level of fees are being earned, I find it extraordinary that individuals should withdraw services,” he said. “What took place yesterday [Thursday] was a disgrace.”

He said it was “outrageous” that so many cases were adjourned and accused striking solicitors and barristers of looking for increased fees at a time when there was already a €10 million overspend.

He stressed that there was a large number of unemployed barristers and solicitors who would be “readily available to undertake work competently in circumstances where others declined to take work”.

Mr Shatter said he had received a letter from the Criminal Law Practitioners Organisation in September complaining that a cut of 10 per cent in the fees paid through the criminal legal aid system meant prosecution solicitors were paid more than defence solicitors. That situation was remedied four days later.

He said the €10 million overspend on the original allocation of €47 million meant other parts of his department had lost out. He warned that the budget allocation was again €47 million for next year and those involved in the scheme would have to stay within budget.

The Minister said he had requested the CLPO to make a submission to him about how money could be saved 2½ weeks ago and had heard nothing.