LATEST: Criminal barristers in Kildare withdraw services for third time in call for pay restoration

Criminal barristers in County Kildare have withdrawn their services in the final three days of industrial action to call for their pay to be restored to pre-financial crash levels.

The action is occurring nationwide, and one senior counsel has said that further action is 'inevitable' if their pay is not fully restored in the next Budget.

Back in October, barristers at Naas Courthouse decided to withdraw their services.

This led to a restoration of 10 per cent of their fees in Budget 2024.

Now, a spokesperson for The Council of the Bar of Ireland has said: "Barristers today withdrew service nationwide again today, in the third of three days of withdrawal this legal term.

"The Council of The Bar of Ireland recommended the withdrawal of service to members in response to a continued lack of progress on the restoration of criminal legal aid fees imposed in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI)-era.

"The three days in July is an escalation on the previous one day of withdrawal which took place on October 3, 2023."

The spokesperson further explained: "Shortly after that unprecedented day of withdrawal last October, a partial restoration of 10 per cent of fees was confirmed in Budget 2024.

"However, even after this 10 per cent was restored, the full range of 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.

"While members of government and the opposition have signalled support for fee restoration, no commitment has been forthcoming regarding a timeline, despite a Government report as far back as 2018 stating that fee restoration was justified, given the reforms and flexibilities provided by profession," the spokesperson concluded.

From left to right: Seoirse O'Dunlaing BL, Damien Colgan SC, Marita MacCormack BL, Geraldine Fitzpatrick BL, Donncha Craddock BL, Aisling Murphy BL, Tabitha Wood BL, James O'Brien BL, Mark Gibbons BL, Sarah Connolly BL.