Law Society seeks talks on criminal legal aid row; Justice Minister rebuffs approach
The Law Society of Ireland has asked Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to join talks on the criminal legal aid payments dispute before the legal year opens on Monday. The Irish Independent reports he has rebuffed the approach.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Law Society of Ireland has asked Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to take part in last-minute talks to resolve the criminal legal aid payments dispute before the new legal year opens on Monday. The Irish TimesLC “The Law Society wants the Minister for Justice to take part in last-minute talks aimed at resolving the criminal legal aid payments dispute before the new legal year opens next week.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Law Society urges Justice Minister to enter discussions amid fears of widespread trial and sentencing adjournments next week” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Right · 1The Irish Independent reports that O'Callaghan has rebuffed the approach. Irish IndependentRC “Jim O’Callaghan rebuffs approach for talks over legal aid row before new court term” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Left · 1In a letter, Law Society president Rosemarie Loftus said "meaningful" discussions "must take place" before Monday, and that the society is available "at any time" to meet the Minister and his officials. The Irish TimesLC “She said the society is available “at any time” to meet the Minister and his officials.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Left · 1Loftus said the society was "deeply disappointed" with his response to its earlier call for an independent mediator. In a letter of 15 September declining that offer, O'Callaghan said he was awaiting a judgment due on 13 October on solicitor John Quinn's judicial review challenge to the new District Court payment model. The Irish TimesLC “In a September 15th letter declining that offer, O’Callaghan wrote that he was awaiting an October 13th judgment on a judicial review challenge by solicitor John Quinn to the new legal aid payment model for the District Courts.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Loftus said the society believes there is "no legal impediment" to engagement and that the Quinn judgment is no reason to delay it. The Irish TimesLC “the society does not believe the judgment on the Quinn challenge is a reason to delay meaningful engagement, with the society believing there is “no legal impediment” to engagement.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1The payment model, introduced on 1 July, provides a flat €520 fee irrespective of the number of clients or appearances. It led to a widespread withdrawal of services by criminal defence solicitors and thousands of case adjournments. The Irish TimesLC “Introduced on July 1st, the model provides for a flat €520 fee irrespective of the number of clients or appearances. It led to a widespread withdrawal of services by criminal defence solicitors, leading to thousands of case adjournments.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Left · 1The society says two core issues remain and can be resolved, namely solicitors' concern that a model based on an average of five appearances takes a "one size fits all" approach. Participating solicitors argue it expects them to work for free in complex cases, including those involving vulnerable clients, children and people with addiction and mental health issues. The Irish TimesLC “Solicitors participating in the dispute have argued that the model expects them to work for free in more complex cases involving multiple appearances, including those involving vulnerable clients, children and people with addiction and mental health issues.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Loftus said the Courts Service has described "widespread impact across the criminal system". She also said the society's repeated attempts to access the data behind the Minister's references to early operational outcomes have been unsuccessful, leaving "a lack of clarity and transparency". The Irish TimesLC “Noting that the Minister had referred to early operational outcomes of the new scheme, Loftus said there remained “a lack of clarity and transparency” around the data analysed.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1O'Callaghan has repeatedly said the system aims at cost savings and efficiencies, noting that criminal legal aid costs rose from €19 million in 2015 to more than €41 million last year even though District Court criminal case volumes fell. In written parliamentary answers he said 75 per cent (1,350 of 1,800) of cases under the new scheme needed one court appearance and 99 per cent concluded within five. The Irish TimesLC “In recent written answers to parliamentary questions, the Minister said 75 per cent (1,350 in 1,800) of cases dealt with under the new scheme required one court appearance and 99 per cent concluded within five.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the Law Society's letter and its case for talks, with detail on the payment model, the solicitors' objections and the Minister's cost and data arguments.
- Emphasis
- The society's arguments (access to justice, data transparency, loss of skilled practitioners), alongside the Minister's savings rationale and statistics.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report in the text a fresh refusal by the Minister to this weekend's letter; it reports only his 15 September refusal of mediation.
- Charged language
- “one size fits all”
- For example
-
“Minister urged to mediate criminal legal aid dispute as more courts disruption looms” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Headline centres on the Minister's rebuff of the society's approach before the new court term.
- Emphasis
- The Minister's refusal and the risk of trial and sentencing adjournments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Offers little detail on the payment model, the solicitors' grievances or the Minister's reasons.
- Charged language
- “rebuffs”
- For example
-
“Jim O’Callaghan rebuffs approach for talks over legal aid row before new court term” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- The Law Society of Ireland has urged Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to enter talks on the criminal legal aid dispute before the legal year opens on Monday.
- The dispute risks further court disruption and adjournments.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the Minister should engage in talks now
- Left
- The Irish Times reports the society's view that nothing legally prevents engagement before the 13 October Quinn judgment, and recounts the Minister's earlier refusal of mediation.
- Right
- The Irish Independent's headline says O'Callaghan has rebuffed the approach.
Law Society of Ireland organisation
Wants meaningful talks with the Minister before Monday, says there is no legal impediment, and says the dispute's core issues can be resolved.
“the society does not believe the judgment on the Quinn challenge is a reason to delay meaningful engagement, with the society believing there is “no legal impediment” to engagement.” — The Irish Times
Jim O'Callaghan person
Declined mediation on 15 September pending the 13 October judgment, and defends the model as delivering savings and efficiencies. The Irish Independent reports he rebuffed the latest approach.
“O’Callaghan has repeatedly said the new system was introduced with a view to achieving cost savings and efficiencies” — The Irish Times
“Jim O’Callaghan rebuffs approach for talks over legal aid row before new court term” — Irish Independent
Left1 article
-
Law Society wants talks to resolve solicitors’ payments row before legal year opens Monday
Neutral Detailed account of the Law Society's letter seeking talks, with the Minister's earlier stance and figures included.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Jim O’Callaghan rebuffs approach for talks over legal aid row before new court term
Neutral Headline and lede frame the story as the Minister rebuffing the Law Society amid fears of widespread adjournments.
- 3 Oct 05:30 First Irish IndependentRC Jim O’Callaghan rebuffs approach for talks over legal aid row before new court term
- 3 Oct 06:00 +30m The Irish TimesLC Law Society wants talks to resolve solicitors’ payments row before legal year opens Monday
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.