Justice minister and Law Society to discuss legal aid reforms
Minister Jim O’Callaghan met with Law Society president Rosemarie Loftus to address issues arising from new criminal legal aid rules. They agreed to a focused dialogue starting 30 October aimed at refining the scheme while maintaining court efficiency improvements.
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Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 1 min read
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, held talks with the Law Society, led by President Rosemarie Loftus, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The discussion centred on the implementation challenges of recent Criminal Legal Aid regulations and the impact of some solicitors withdrawing services, which is affecting operations in certain criminal courts.
Both parties concurred on the necessity for a concise, targeted engagement to take place over the coming week, beginning Friday, 30 October. This dialogue is intended to examine potential adjustments within the legal aid scheme to address concerns expressed by practitioners.
Importantly, the discussions aim to ensure that the core objectives of the reforms—namely, accelerating case resolution and enhancing the efficiency of the District Court—are maintained. Further updates will follow as this engagement progresses.
Both parties concurred on the necessity for a concise, targeted engagement to take place over the coming week, beginning Friday, 30 October. This dialogue is intended to examine potential adjustments within the legal aid scheme to address concerns expressed by practitioners.
Importantly, the discussions aim to ensure that the core objectives of the reforms—namely, accelerating case resolution and enhancing the efficiency of the District Court—are maintained. Further updates will follow as this engagement progresses.
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