The Law Society of Ireland has formally requested the appointment of an independent mediator to resolve an ongoing dispute with the Department of Justice over criminal legal aid payment structures.

In a letter sent to Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, Law Society President Rosemarie Loftus raised serious concerns regarding the impact of the deadlock on victims, accused individuals, and the broader justice system. The request follows widespread service withdrawals by criminal defence solicitors across Ireland, which have disrupted proceedings in District Courts nationwide.

Figures from the Courts Service cited in the letter revealed a 93 per cent decrease in granted criminal legal aid certificates in July 2026 compared to the same month in the previous year. Loftus described the decline as a deeply worrying collapse in the availability of legal aid for court users.

The standoff was triggered on 1 July 2026 when O'Callaghan implemented a single flat-fee model of €520 per District Court case, replacing the previous system that paid solicitors per court appearance. While the Department of Justice adjusted the rules in late July to allow two-thirds of the fee to be paid at the start of a case, the Law Society maintained that core operational problems remain unaddressed.

The legal body highlighted two primary sticking points: the treatment of multiple separate offences for a single defendant listed on the same day as a single fee-earning matter, and the lack of additional funding mechanisms for complex, long-running cases involving vulnerable individuals, children, or defendants remanded in custody.

The letter also addressed comments made by O'Callaghan, in which he stated that the criminal courts were operating effectively despite the ongoing action. Loftus said she was surprised by the Minister's assessment, cautioning that the impasse continues to cause profound disruption across the court network. A Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed receipt of the correspondence.