Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There was an argument in the past about fees for criminal defence lawyers. The Bar Council approached the then Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to say that there was an inequality of arms in that prosecution lawyers were getting a little bit more than defence lawyers. The Minister remedied that by cutting the higher fees but at least there was an equality of arms whereas here, for the first time, that principle is being challenged and that is a huge concern.

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