Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
344. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice to list all barristers, solicitors, or firms of solicitors who received more than €20,000 from the criminal legal aid scheme in 2022; the amounts they received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31800/23]
View answerI can inform the Deputy, that criminal legal services are provided by private legal practitioners who have notified the relevant authority of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work. The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on application by the defence in court.
My Department has no role in the granting of legal aid or in the appointment of legal practitioners to a case. The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that free legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings.
The Criminal Legal Aid Schemes are demand led and the fees and expenses due to legal practitioners are paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the schemes. My Department is responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to the legal practitioners.
As requested, I have provided the Deputy with a list of legal practitioners who received more than €20,000 from the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in 2022.
