Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor
Vote 19 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 15: Lease of Accommodation for a Probation Service Project
1:10 pm
Mr. Brian Purcell:
I do not need to explain the position. Individuals have a constitutional right to be represented - one has the presumption of innocence, etc. - and it is up to the court to decide whether to grant legal aid. Currently, there is no legal provision in place to recoup legal aid fees or reduce, for example, an individual's social welfare payments on the basis that he or she has been granted criminal legal aid. It is a question of striking a balance between the-----
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