Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contribution and Deputy O'Callaghan for the legislation. While it is welcome, it has limitations with regard to who can access the advice and when it will be made available. I am not sure about the mechanics of how it would work, particularly prior to charges being brought. It would be interesting and worthwhile to work it out and go through it. An individual having to make even a small contribution could be a barrier because what might be a small contribution to us would be a large contribution to those who need the advice. On the civil law side, victims of domestic violence must make a once-off payment of €130 to access legal aid. That would be prohibitive.