Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
225. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the legal aid funds paid to date in the Stardust inquests that commenced pursuant to a direction by the Attorney General in December 2019; the instruction fees to all solicitors, the brief fees to all barristers and all the other legal aid payments in the Stardust inquests since December 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23869/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, in May of last year, the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2021 (SI No 248 of 2021) were made. These Regulations facilitated the granting of legal aid to the family members of the victims of the Stardust fire, without reference to their financial resources, in respect of the new Stardust Inquests.
On foot of a request received from the Dublin City Coroner pursuant to section 60 of the Coroners Act 1962 (as amended), the Legal Aid Board has subsequently granted legal aid to each of the family members of the victims who applied to the coroner for a request to be made.
By long-standing arrangement between my Department and the Legal Aid Board, legal fees and other expenses in connection with the grant of legal aid at inquests are directly discharged by my Department and not from the Legal Aid Fund administered by the Board. The new Stardust Inquests are no different in this regard. However, the Legal Aid Board does have a role in certifying to my Department that each claim for payment received from a solicitor, barrister, expert, or other witnesses, has been properly incurred on foot of a legal aid certificate or other authority granted by the Board.
I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that it has, to date, certified to my Department claims in connection with the new Stardust Inquests totalling €142,168 in solicitors fees, €893,407 in barrister fees and £200 (GBP) for expert reports. These arise primarily in connection with the preliminary hearings that have been conducted by the coroner to date. As the Deputy will be aware, a date for commencement of the inquest proper has not yet been set by the coroner.
