Barristers in Cork continue protest over pay cuts

Criminal law barristers in Cork and across the country today withdrew their services as part of a campaign to have their pay cuts reversed.

Protests have been taking place where criminal cases were due to be heard on Monday, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, and courthouses in Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Castlebar.

The protest is the second of three planned days of action this month.

In an unprecedented move, barristers first withdrew their services last October, which led to a restoration of 10% of fees in the budget.

However, barristers say the rise did not fully restore their pay following cuts made in the financial crash, and that the breaking of the link to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored.

The Council of The Bar of Ireland said its members are increasingly frustrated at the lack of engagement from Government on the matter.

Chairwoman of the council of The Bar of Ireland Sara Phelan SC said there has been no progress in their bid to restore their pay.

“The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform put out a statement saying it was the gift of the Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) to actually deal with fees,” Ms Phelan said.

“The Minister for Justice is saying nothing can be done ahead of the budget process, so therefore we are in no better position now than we were last week.

“We have to wait to see what the Government wants to do for us. The ball is very firmly in their court.

“We are ready, willing and able to engage with them, to talk to them.

“We have made that very clear, that we remain open to conversation and to engagement in order to avert the third day of protest, which is next week.

“What we would like is a binding commitment now, that binding commitment could take effect as and of the budget but we would like to see a binding commitment now.

“We don’t believe that that can’t be done because public sector pay agreements are completed outside of the budget process from time to time, and there has been one earlier on this year that will take effect with the budget.

“We don’t see why that can’t be done in our case as well.”

She added: “My criminal colleagues around the country who practice crime on the circuit, they are increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress.

“They were very frustrated last October, we had our day of protest, and that resulted in a 10% restoration. That 10% had actually been taken from us in 2011.

“That 10% hadn’t applied to any other sector at that stage.

“We were uniquely the subject of that cut.

“However, the government also in the budget committed to engaging with us to review fees and to review the criminal legal aid system.

“But our review of fees was to be built into that.

“We wrote to the Minister for Justice in November setting out draft terms of reference for review.

“There was no real engagement from the Department of Justice.

“There was one meeting on the 25th of June before our day of protests took place.

“But that obviously was far too little far too late. Our members now are becoming very, very frustrated.”

She added:“There has been a huge support for these days of protest.

“The Bar Council can only make a recommendation to its members, but our members in unity have decided to come out and protest last week, this week and next week.”

The third day of withdrawal of service by criminal law barristers is poised to take place next Wednesday, July 24.