Criminal Barristers across the country are withdrawing their services today as they call for a restoration of legal aid fees. Protesting members won't attend court, communicate with solicitors or do paperwork, while demonstrations will be held at courthouses across the country.
The Bar of Ireland say members are effectively earning less now than a decade ago, and while a detailed review process was launched in 2018, it failed to produce any meaningful results. Council Chair Sara Phelan says she can't rule out further strike action.
Ms Phelan said there was "pent-up frustration" among her members. She pointed out that next week will see the sixth budget since a review into barristers' fees was concluded in 2018. "We've not had any fee restoration in the intervening period," she said, " and if we don't actually achieve any positive outcome from the withdrawal of services on October 3rd we're going to have to go back to our members to see what next step we will take."
