The ICBA has launched a short survey, the results of which will be presented at a meeting in the Criminal Courts of Justice next Thursday.

The initiative comes amid concerns that criminal practitioners in the District Court will not benefit from any move by the government towards fee restoration because of the archaic system by which barristers at that level are paid through solicitors.

The ICBA said it is “aware that practitioners have a wide variety of concerns arising from the current operation of the aforementioned legal aid scheme in the District Court and District Court appeals”.

The ICBA survey — which is anonymous — will run until Tuesday 18 July at 12 noon. All criminal practitioners are encouraged to take the survey, regardless of their seniority, stage of practice or membership status with ICBA.

A meeting to discuss the findings of the survey will take place on Thursday 20 July, 4.45pm in the Jury Room at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

Practitioners are strongly encouraged to attend in-person, but it will also be possible to join via Zoom in order to enable access to non-Dublin-based practitioners. For the Zoom link, contact icba@lawlibrary.ie.