Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Carthy for that. As he stated, the civil legal aid review group completed its reports recently. In April, I received a majority report from the group and a minority report from former Chief Justice Frank Clarke. I had the opportunity to read both and am discussing within my Department how I will progress them.

I am satisfied with the need to increase the thresholds available to those seeking access to the civil legal aid scheme. Sometimes people confuse more money for the civil legal aid scheme as being more money for lawyers. It is not about lawyers; it is about ensuring citizens have access to the means by which they can vindicate their constitutional or statutory rights. Law is extremely complex. We keep producing vast amounts of it in this House and we also have European law on top of that. In order to navigate the law, the reality is we need legal advice and assistance.

I propose in the short term to put the reports out for public consultation. While that is happening, I want the Deputy to know I will ask my Department to work on how we can give effect to some of the recommendations contained in the reports. There will be a consequence to increasing thresholds and making civil legal aid more accessible to people. This is something I want to achieve but the consequence is that more work will have to be done. I need to ensure there are resources on the ground for private practitioners and solicitors working within the legal aid board offices around the country to facilitate them in providing for this greater level of work.

I thank the former Chief Justice for the report and I hope to be in a position to publish both reports shortly.

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