Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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720. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will meet with a representative body (details supplied) given the review that was carried out in July 2018 by the Director of Public Prosecutions and her Department in relation to the work undertaken by criminal barristers and its conclusion that was communicated to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the flexibilities in work practices undertaken by criminal barristers were akin to the flexibilities in work practices by public sector employees and State solicitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37034/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for FEMPI fee restoration rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I understand that the reversal of cuts is under consideration in that Department. I also wish to reassure you that my Department has been engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to resolve this matter.

I and senior officials in my Department are also in regular contact with the Bar Council of Ireland, the most recent meeting between the Bar Council and officials from my Department was in April of this year. I also met with the Bar Council on a number of occasions, most recently in December 2021.

I would like to again reassure the Deputy that the issue of fee restoration is under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and is being examined further in the context of wider public pay policy and expenditure implications.