Criminal defence solicitors on strike this morning

The dispute with the Minister for Justice is over a new payment scheme for criminal legal aid.

All criminal defence services, including in cases where defendants are in custody or where children are involved have been withdrawn.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan introduced a new €520 flat-fee payment for legal aid cases in July.

Solicitors have been refusing to act in cases where defendants are on bail, but now will include custody cases and cases involving children.

Solicitors say this would end if Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan engages with solicitors.

"This is not a one-day withdrawal of service. This is a commencement of an all-out withdrawal of service," Tony Collier told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

"We want to return to work. We've explained that repeatedly to the minister. It is the minister that won't engage.

"The Law Society are ready and waiting, I'm informed, to have meetings. This can actually stop immediately.

"This could stop today with the proper engagement from the minister and if the same steps were taken to resolve this dispute as we see in the public sector dispute, it would be resolved very quickly."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said he has introduced an 8% increase in criminal legal aid fees payable to solicitors and barristers in the Circuit Court and higher courts.

"This represents the total restoration of the criminal legal aid fees cut under FEMPI so it is unnecessary and regrettable that some solicitors are choosing to withdraw their services," the statement said.

"However, over 150 solicitors across the country are actively working the new criminal legal aid system with more than 3,385 certificates issued (invoices for payment) for legal aid with an approximate value of over €1.7 million since July.

"Of the cases concluded under the new system, 75% concluded with one court appearance and 99% of concluded cases were finalised within five appearances.

"Prior to 1 July where a case concluded in one appearance, the solicitor would earn approximately €240, under the new system solicitors earn €520."