Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Government, I want to say that we recognise the important and essential role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is currently engaged in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the issue of criminal legal aid fees as part of the budgetary process. Of course, the budget will be presented to the Dáil in a week.

The scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the presidents of the courts and the presiding judges, who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. However, I have been advised by the Courts Service that, in the absence of legal representatives for any reason, it is open to each court and judge to adjourn a matter until another date. Representation by barristers varies across court jurisdiction and law type and it is not possible for the Courts Service to tell us how many cases may be impacted today.

With regard to the Garda overtime ban, which is occurring this Tuesday, next Tuesday and the Tuesday after, it is important to say that it relates to voluntary overtime. The Garda Commissioner assures us that policing will remain adequate and sufficient across each Tuesday, including today.

On the Policing Authority, I will have to look at the legislation to which the Deputy referred. I am not sure if it is the case that the authority has a role to play in this. It is an oversight body. It is there to hold gardaí and Garda management to account. I am not sure if it is the appropriate body to get involved in a rostering dispute but I will certainly consider what the Deputy suggested.

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