Overwatch Report

Council of The Bar of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with the ODPP on matters relating to prosecution service and barristers

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helena Kiely', 'role': 'Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Marion Berry', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Operation of the Legal Aid Board scheme and matters of concern to the profession

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joan Crawford', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Legal Aid Board)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Family Courts Bill 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Letter to Oireachtas members with survey results: https://www.lawlibrary.ie/survey-of-family-law-practitioners-highlights-widespread-concern-about-family-court-bill-2022/'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Restoration of Professional Fees - Criminal Legal Aid

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Carole Sullivan', 'role': 'Director (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Implementation Plan of the EU Migration & Asylum Pact

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Doncha O’Sullivan', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Courts Service - Loop Induction Hearing System

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Angela Denning', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Courts Service)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Updates on LSRA in respect of levy on the Bar, Legal Partnerships, implementation of 'Barrier's Report', commencement of Direct Access/S 101 of Act

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Dr. Brian Doherty', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (Legal Services Regulatory Authority)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] The Bar of Ireland General Election Manifesto

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Submission All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'https://www.lawlibrary.ie/app/uploads/2024/11/GE-Manifesto-2024-FINAL-FBC.pdf'} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Barry Ward', 'role': 'Senator (Seanad)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ivana Bacik', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Ruairí Ó Murchú', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Briefing on amendments to the Family Courts Bill 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Andrew Munro', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Engagement with the ODPP on various matters in relation to the engagement of Counsel to prosecute cases on behalf of the ODPP

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Marion Berry', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Helena Kiely', 'role': 'Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Revised Guidance on submission of counsels' fee notes

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Maria Browne', 'role': 'Chief State Solicitor (The Office of the Chief State Solicitor)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Professional fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law instructed by the ODPP and under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Enclosure addressing a range of policy issues in the justice arena, including restoration of criminal legal aid fees'} {'name': 'Lobby day All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Simon Harris', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Review of Civil Legal Aid Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': 'Policy document enclosed with letter'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Proposed approach for utilisation of barristers in international protection cases

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'John McDaid', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Legal Aid Board)'} {'name': 'Joan Crawford', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Legal Aid Board)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Legal Aid provision under the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act 2015

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Joan Crawford', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Legal Aid Board)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Public Expenditure and Reform] Exclusion of barristers in tendering for legal services

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Paul Quinn', 'role': 'Government Chief Procurement Officer (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Professional fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law instructed by the ODPP and under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''} {'name': 'Leo Varadkar', 'role': 'Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)'} {'name': 'Paschal Donohoe', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)'} {'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Finance)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Catherine Pierse', 'role': 'Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} + 2 more

Council of The Bar of Ireland

May–August

[Justice and Equality] Courts Service facilities on Circuit

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Angela Denning', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Courts Service)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Professional Fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Letter All Oireachtas Members', 'role': ''} {'name': "Jim O'Callaghan", 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Patrick Costello', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Pa Daly', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Aodhán Ó Ríordáin', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} {'name': 'Alan Farrell', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'} + 9 more

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Professional Fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'James Lawless', 'role': 'TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Professional Fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Scheme.

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Caron McCaffrey', 'role': 'Director General (Irish Prison Service)'} {'name': 'Oonagh McPhillips', 'role': 'Secretary General (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Implementation of the restoration of the 10% cut that was uniquely applied to barristers and commencement of the review of the criminal legal aid scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Pierse', 'role': 'Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Marion Berry', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Yvonne Furey', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

September–December

[Justice and Equality] Security in Dolphin House

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Angela Denning', 'role': 'Chief Executive Officer (The Courts Service)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Backlogs in the Courts arising from Covid19 pandemic

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Professional fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law instructed by the ODPP and under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Michael McGrath', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Annual financial contribution of the Irish Government to the ICC

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Helen McEntee', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Justice)'} {'name': 'Simon Coveney', 'role': 'Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Professional fees paid to barristers who practice in criminal law instructed by the ODPP

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Catherine Pierse', 'role': 'Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Elizabeth Howlin', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Helena Kiely', 'role': 'Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Approach to Preliminary Trial Hearings

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Elizabeth Howlin', 'role': 'Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'} {'name': 'Helena Kiely', 'role': 'Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Operation of Cloverhill - High Court Bails and facilities in Cloverhill

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Tom Ward', 'role': 'Assistant Secretary (The Courts Service)'}

Council of The Bar of Ireland

January–April

[Justice and Equality] Justice Action Plan 2022

Public Officials Lobbied

{'name': 'Oonagh Buckley', 'role': 'Deputy Secretary General (Department of Justice)'}

Lobbying Tracker

Most Lobbied TDs