A withdrawal of service by criminal defence solicitors in Dublin is not justified and should not happen, the Taoiseach has said.
The two-day stoppage across courts in the city marks an escalation of an increasingly vexed row between the profession and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan over reforms to the legal aid system.
Solicitors have criticised the implementation of a flat fee for their work with criminal legal aid clients regardless of how many appearances are involved in the case.
Up to 200 solicitors have indicated they would resign from the legal aid panel in protest at the move – impacting several proceedings.
The two-day stoppage in Dublin comes ahead of further planned withdrawal of services on several days next week.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked about the dispute as he arrived at Government Buildings for a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“I don’t believe that the action should take place,” he said.
