Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning, along with hundreds of my colleagues at the criminal Bar, I stood outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in an unprecedented demonstration of dissatisfaction by barristers over their pay. I know the issue has been mentioned. That action was repeated outside courtrooms throughout Ireland by people who work in the criminal justice system in small towns in every county of this country. They both prosecute and defend crimes of a very serious nature in our system. Without them, the system cannot work. Sometimes when we talk about the lack of fairness in the context of criminal legal aid payments, we forget that these people are central to the operation of a system that protects the victims of crime, upholds rights and ensures that people are held accountable for what they have done. It is incredibly important.

I do not understand why this problem has not been fixed. I do not know what Senator Craughwell was referring to when he spoke about politicians because criminal barristers and solicitors are the only group for whom the cuts made during the financial emergency over 12 years ago have not yet been unwound. Every other person who appears in a court during a criminal trial has had his or her pay put back to where it was. Criminal barristers, supported by the wider community of lawyers in Ireland, brought a demonstration today because they are at the end of their tether. In 2018, there was a joint report by the Department of Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions. It had nothing to do with barristers. That report established that reforms have been made by barristers in line with reforms by other sectors of the public service and that they deserve to have their pay cuts unwound. That was five years ago. Nothing has happened since.

We are now a week away from the budget. The demonstration that took place today was fair and respectful. I know the Leader is acutely aware of the situation. I hope the Government will take account of it and take the necessary steps to bring fairness to the pay scheme because our criminal justice system will be damaged if the situation is not resolved.