John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When is the criminal justice (legal aid) Bill due to come before the House? Legal aid cost €50 million last year and a new EU directive is instructing that criminals be allowed to have a solicitor present when they are being questioned by gardaí or on identity parades. Instead of decreasing, legal aid spending will increase. Funding is there on demand, and while some of our more vulnerable people in other areas seem to be under pressure for funding, there seems to be no restriction on legal aid spending.

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