Powderly Solicitors’ Eoghan O’Sullivan appeared on RTÉ Drivetime on Friday to discuss the ongoing dispute surrounding changes to the criminal legal aid scheme and the continued withdrawal of services by a number of solicitors.

Speaking to presenter Katie Hannon, Eoghan explained the concerns held by solicitors about the new payment structure, which provides a fixed fee of €520 per client regardless of the number of court appearances required.

He said the current arrangement effectively asks solicitors to undertake an indefinite amount of work for a fixed fee and argued that the new scheme could ultimately impact the people it is intended to support.

Eoghan also addressed claims that the previous system incentivised solicitors to seek additional court appearances, explaining that the realities of criminal legal aid cases are often considerably more complex than private cases. He also discussed proposals put forward by the Law Society aimed at addressing concerns around separate and distinct offences and certificates.

The discussion also highlighted the wider impact of the ongoing dispute, including pressure on the courts and potential consequences for people involved in criminal proceedings.

Eoghan said that solicitors remain willing to engage with the Minister for Justice and called for meaningful consultation to help bring the dispute to an end.

The criminal legal aid dispute is expected to continue into September, with solicitors and the Department of Justice remaining at an impasse over the new scheme.

Listen to Eoghan O’Sullivan’s full interview on RTÉ Drivetime.