Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the engagement that has been announced and note the Minister outlined the membership of that task force and when he expects a report. He sometimes reminds me of a disc jockey from the 1980s who continually plays the same record, thereby keeping happy the fan base. There have been reports from an organisation called the Criminal Law Practitioners Association, which appears to have a large representation of criminal lawyers, to the effect they intend to withdraw their services. The association has nothing to do with the Law Society and these reports have been circulated widely throughout the media. Has the Department engaged either with the Law Society or with the aforementioned association on an informal basis to ascertain what will happen in the event of the withdrawal of services by a large number of criminal law practitioners? What contingency services will be available to those who seek to avail of the service in the event of such a withdrawal of services, which no Member would support? In addition, does the Minister intend to introduce the criminal justice legal aid Bill prepared by the former Minister, Dermot Ahern, or has he carried out work in this regard?

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