Minister Michael McGrath has told the Bar Council that he is giving his "personal attention" to the question of restoring criminal legal aid fees for barristers and that a decision will be made in the coming weeks. The DPER minister had a private meeting with the representative body last week.
As senior public servants line up for a fresh round of pay hikes, barristers say the talent pool is dwindling in criminal practice due to "pitiful" fees that remain at 2002 levels. DPER wants proof of recruitment and retention issues.
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