Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has called on criminal legal aid lawyers to reconsider a proposed strike action. The newly formed Criminal Law Practitioners Organisation plan to disrupt proceedings in the courts next Thursday by taking strike action in response to cuts to the Criminal Legal Aid bill. The organisation is a coalition of barristers and solicitors which has been established to fight changes to criminal legal aid fees.
In a statement released yesterday, a representative for the Department of Justice said Mr Shatter was surprised and disappointed by the proposed action. He has told the organisation that expenditure on criminal legal aid will be cut due to the spending reduction facing all Government Departments. The statement added that Mr Shatter is hopeful that after further consideration, the strike will be called off.