The Minister’s remarks are equal part tone-deaf and obtuse
The collapse in criminal cases in the courts is a crisis of the Justice Minister’s own making, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon said:
“The Minister has said it is “deeply regrettable” that criminal legal aid solicitors have begun a two-day work stoppage today.
“The Minister has also stated that this measure will “result in the unnecessary adjournment of court proceedings which will negatively impact on any person who finds themselves in contact with the criminal justice system”.
“These remarks are equal part tone-deaf and obtuse. Nowhere is there any acknowledgement that it is his disastrous handling of this fiasco that has led us to this point – the criminal courts on the verge of collapse.
“The Minister’s insistence on ramming through reforms of the criminal legal aid scheme without bothering to engage with criminal legal aid solicitors who deliver that essential service is extraordinary and deeply damaging.
“The Minister believes that, when it comes to introducing reforms, it is his way or the highway and is now apparently confused that many solicitors are choosing the highway.
“It bears repeating that the Minister has identified delays in the criminal courts as a major issue, but rather than investigating the cause in a comprehensive and fair way, has simply lumped all the blame on solicitors.
“There is no evidence to support this, no rationale for the changes that have now been railroaded through and very little comprehension by the Minister or his Department of the very significant threat to the criminal justice system they have unleashed.
“This is a crisis of the Justice Minister’s own making, and it is up to him to resolve it. He must pause the changes to the criminal legal aid scheme and do what is inevitable – engage with solicitors before any more damage is done.”