There is "chaos reigning" in the courts as thousands of cases are being adjourned due to the withdrawal of services by legal aid solicitors.
That's according to local TD, Matt Carthy.
Earlier this week, Deputy Carthy told Northern Sound that the current impasse risks causing "significant damage" to the justice system.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, the Sinn Féin TD called for a Dáil debate on the proposed changes to the legal aid scheme.
Deputy Carthy also called for the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan to engage with stakeholders in the dispute.
He said: "There is chaos reigning in our courts as thousands of cases are being adjourned due to the withdrawal of services by legal aid solicitors. The Government and the Minister are responsible for further backlogging the legal system and for creating havoc for many of the people involved in these cases, including victims.
"There should be a Dáil debate this week on the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme. Most importantly, the Government and the Minister need to immediately engage with stakeholders and then bring forward viable, workable proposals that deliver the value for money and that reduce the court adjournments but also ensures there is access to justice for everyone who needs it."
