Rosemarie Loftus

Justice, home affairs and migration minister Jim O’Callaghan this week said his proposed new model “will lead to a more efficient system by reducing unnecessary adjournments” — apparently suggesting lawyers are deliberately slowing down cases.

The changes are proposed to be implemented by 1 July 2026, the same date as the wider and long-awaited restoration of criminal legal aid fees.

In a statement yesterday, Law Society president Rosemarie Loftus said: “The new proposal to replace the existing payment per appearance fee structure with one flat fee is deeply concerning.

“While we welcome minister O’Callaghan’s commitment to reform the criminal legal aid scheme so it better serves the people who need it, the Law Society is not supportive of a fixed fee that does not take into account the indeterminate length of case proceedings and the work involved.

“The Law Society welcomes the commitment to the restoration of criminal legal aid fees in Budget 2026. This progress is an important step in increasing the availability of criminal legal aid to those who cannot afford legal representation.

“The Law Society has requested a meeting with Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to express our concerns and to discuss the proposal.”