Barristers in Kilkenny to protest as they strike over pay for second time

Criminal barristers around the country will withdraw their services this Tuesday, July 9 in the first of three days of withdrawal this month.

It follows a recommendation from the Council of The Bar of Ireland last month. Protests will take place at 16 courthouses, including Kilkenny city.

This is an escalation on the unprecedented action taken by criminal barristers all over the country on October 3 last, with the aim of seeking "an independent, meaningful, time-limited and binding mechanism to determine the fees paid to criminal barristers by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme".

Following the first withdrawal on October 3, 2023, a 10% restoration was subsequently announced in Budget 2024 on October 10.

However, even after this 10% was restored, the full range of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) era cuts that were applied across the public sector, continue to apply to the profession, and the unilateral breaking of the link (in 2008) to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored, say the Council of The Bar of Ireland.

Sara Phelan SC, chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, said it is with regret that they have recommended to criminal practitioners that they withdraw service again.

"No barrister wishes to be in this position, but we have been left with no choice. The Government has just reported on the complete unwinding of FEMPI legislation this month, yet FEMPI-era cuts still apply to our profession. This is despite the fact that the role of criminal barristers has evolved significantly in that time frame, and we have at all times delivered on the required reforms and flexibilities.

"Yet, barristers continue to be treated differently to others in the criminal justice system and indeed to society at large. All we are seeking is fairness, and for appropriate investment in the criminal justice system.

"A failure to so invest will result in continued attrition at the criminal bar, which will in turn add to the delays already being experienced by members of the public involved in the criminal justice system – these delays can often be very difficult, in particular for victims of crime and accused persons, all of whom are seeking to have their rights vindicated. The ball is in the Government’s court now," said Ms Phelan.

Sean Guerin SC, chair of the Criminal State Bar Committee, said it has been acknowledged in Government that there is "no good reason" why fees of criminal barristers shouldn’t be restored.

"Yet eight months on from a commitment to establish a process reviewing the fees, no meaningful progress has been made. The impact of inadequate fees is having a corrosive effect on the retention of counsel in criminal practice and this isn’t just a matter that affects barristers, it’s also a matter of social justice.

"A lack of experienced and available barristers to fully and properly defend or prosecute a case, leads to inequality and injustice, which have an impact on everyone in society. Public trust in the criminal justice system should not be taken for granted, and must be protected,” said Mr Guerin. 

The Council of The Bar of Ireland has recommended a withdrawal of service by criminal law barristers nationwide on the following dates: Tuesday, July 9, Monday, July 15, and Wednesday, July 24.