Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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448. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his position on the reinstatement of criminal legal aid fees to pre-2008 levels. [21640/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid in criminal cases. The Department of Justice administers the Scheme and is responsible for making payments under the Scheme.

The issue of Criminal Legal Aid fees is, I understand, being considered by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, as the Department with responsibility for any restoration of barrister fees arising from the FEMPI cuts.

The Department recognises the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work. This Department supports the reversal of FEMPI cuts for those in the legal profession in line with action taken to restore the pay of public and civil servants impacted by the FEMPI cuts, and continues to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to fees paid under criminal legal aid.

State Solicitors who are engaged by the DPP to work on criminal prosecutions have had a process of pay restoration implemented since 2017 by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.