Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That has been the case for a number of years. Often proceedings are adjourned to allow for interim reports. There could be 12 court appearances with one legal aid certificate. I do not know if members of the committee are aware of the fee with respect to a legal aid certificate. It is €339. I know many practitioners during the recession started taking on legal aid cases but as the legal and other areas have picked up, they are turning away and taking the meatier legal aid cases, perhaps leaving somebody who might have a difficult case, such as one involving domestic violence, that might require many reports over 12 months. That is because the fees are so pitiful. Rather than the process being kept in-house, it is going to the private practitioner panel.