Barristers’ fees taken up with Director of Public Prosecutions

According to the Bar, professional fee levels for criminal barristers have been cut by between 28.5 per cent and 69 per cent since 2008.

Some of those cuts arose from a parallel application of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation to professional fees. A further 10 per cent cut to professional fees, over and above FEMPI, was uniquely applied to barristers in October 2011.

The Bar has now made a submission to the DPP over professional fee levels now that the economy is recovering.

It comes days after Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society of Ireland, told the Irish Examiner that cuts to legal aid should be reversed as the economy improves.

A spokesperson for The Bar of Ireland told Irish Legal News: “Over the last 8 years, the Council of The Bar of Ireland has pro-actively engaged with and worked alongside all of the relevant state agencies to secure cost-efficiencies in the criminal justice system.

“For example, the more widespread use of video-links for some court appearances, the operation of practice directions to streamline criminal trials, consensual editing of witness lists, and other measures have all been implemented with the co-operation of the Bar in recent times, resulting in significant savings.

“Similar to other professions, and arising from the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to gradually repeal FEMPI now that the economy is no longer in a state of financial emergency, the Council of The Bar of Ireland has made a submission to the DPP on many aspects of the DPP Scheme, including its application, its operation and professional fee levels.

“The Bar of Ireland also raised these matters with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform and the Department is currently considering same.”