Law Society of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Law Society of Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details Restoration of criminal legal aid rates and other matters (see below)

Intended results Maintain the viability of solicitor participation in the criminal legal aid system, and to ensure efficacy of legal aid scheme. Safeguard access to justice, as required by constitutional and international legal obligations.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

The Society drew attention to the 26% reduction in rates in recent years, the need to reassess travel and subsistence payments which are 50% below current civil and public service rates. Acknowledging the complexity of criminal legal work, the Society underlined the need for a root and branch review of current work undertaken by solicitors and the need for fair and adequate payment for work undertaken. Consideration was also requested of Continuing Professional Development supports. Finally, the Society indicated its availability and cooperation in the development of a technology based approach to legal aid payment processing.

Submission (1)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

John McDaid Chief Executive Officer (The Legal Aid Board)