Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)

On legal counselling and access to justice, the pact explicitly allows member states to offer free legal advice and representation at first instance, which Ireland already does. Why has the Department decided, according to the testimonies of the witnesses today and last week, to roll back on that right and create this undefined concept of legal counselling? That clearly weakens the applicants' access to justice and is potentially also in breach of Article 47 of the charter. In what context was that decision made?