asked the Minister for Justice the proposals he has to improve and extend the existing legal aid system in criminal cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
4.
The operation of the criminal legal aid scheme is still under review by a committee meeting under the chairmanship of District Justice Tormey. This committee has presented two interim reports to me already—one in September 1977, concerned with the remuneration of solicitors under the scheme and the other in May 1978, concerned with the operation of the legal aid panels or lists of solicitors prepared to defend recipinets of legal aid.
The recommendations in both reports have been implemented and have led, I am glad to say, to a smoother operation of the criminal legal aid scheme.
The Committee expect to be in a position to present their final report to me in a matter of weeks.
Is the Minister saying that he does not propose to take any further action until he gets the final report of the committee to which he refers?
The committee are expected to make their final report in a matter of a couple of weeks. I think it would be advisable to wait until I see what is in the report and then act on it.
The words I used in the question are the exact words taken from his manifesto, page 36, where without any reference to committees or any question of deferring for three years until such reports came to hand, he and his colleagues committed themselves unequivocally and unambiguously to——
A question, please. The Deputy is making a statement.
I am asking the Minister if he recalls this because if not, I should like to recall it to his memory.
The Deputy may not quote at question time.
I shall quote from memory then — may I do that? The Minister made a statement three years ago that the existing legal aid system in criminal cases would be improved and extended. The Minister today tells us that he is still awaiting a report before he acts on that pledge. I am asking when does the Minister propose to implement that guarantee.
As I have said, improvements have been made in this scheme. The recommendations made in the two reports presented to me by the committee have been implemented in full. As the Deputy has heard, these recommendations have brought about improvements in the scheme. As regards the committee and its present work, as I said, I expect a report in a couple of weeks.
What has the Minister to say about the commitment on page 36?
Hold on, do not run away with yourself.
It is you who are running away from it.
I am well aware of what is on page 36——
And page 37.
It is on page 36. I have it here in front of me.
Do not forget page 37.
I shall deal with that when it comes. I am well aware of what is in the manifesto and I am delighted to tell the Deputy that I have every intention of fulfilling my commitment.
In reference to the improvements to which the Minister refers, would he say if it is the case that every one of those improvements for which he now appears to take credit were in fact well in train prior to his taking up office? What specific improvements did he bring about in reference to pledge No. 1 in his justice manifesto?
It appears to me that the Deputy is rather upset at the fact that I implemented the recommendations for the improvement of the scheme made to me by the Tormey Committee.