Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding the withdrawal by the Legal Aid Board of legal aid on the basis of alleged breaches of the in-camera rule, if he will consider introducing an independent appeals mechanism for such decisions. [11598/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995.

Section 3(3) of Act states that "the Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions". I, as Minister, am unable to comment on any individual or category of legal aid cases, as I have no role in relation to the operational functions of the Board, nor do I have a role in relation to any complaints or appeals procedures regarding a decision taken by the Board.

The Legal Aid Board can be contacted directly at: oireachtas_enq@legalaidboard.ie