Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The questions are technical in nature, but I shall try to answer them as best as I can. The officials are present, if the Deputy wants to receive more specific answers.

In the vast majority of cases the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions pays set standard fees to prosecution counsel. The brief fee in the Circuit Court is €1,144, with a daily refresher fee of €572. In the Central Criminal Court, in cases of murder, a brief fee of €7,127 is paid to senior counsel, while, in rape cases, a brief fee of €5,704 is paid. A daily refresher fee of €1,562 is paid to senior counsel. Junior counsel are paid two thirds of the senior counsel rate.

I know that the Deputy specifically asked about counsel, but I highlight the fact that the number of judges has increased in the past year. The number in the Central Criminal Court has increased from between three and four judges to five and six judges. The increase has led to rape and murder cases being dealt with on a more frequent and quicker basis.