On 24 February 2026, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration announced plans to introduce 'one flat fee' for criminal legal aid cases in the District Court, even where multiple court appearances are required.
Details of the Department's proposal and relevant documents are available to download below.
Since the flawed proposals were announced, the Law Society has worked to highlight the deep concern across the profession to Government, the media, and across the political spectrum.
You can download key documents related to this work below, including our submission to the Department of Justice, correspondence and parliamentary questions, and slides from a recent information meeting for the profession.
The Law Society is actively engaging with Oireachtas members across the political spectrum, while several individual TDs and Senators have made important contributions to the public debate. You can download a selection of contributions made on the issue below.
See details of the Government proposals and Law Society response, media coverage of the issue, and how you can help to protect Criminal Legal Aid.
