| Treoir Calls on Minister McEntee to Review Legal Aid system without delay
31 March 2022 IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| Treoir, a national organisation working with unmarried parents, is concerned about the announcement that the review of the legal aid system has been delayed. The review was initially scheduled for quarter 3 of 2021, but yesterday Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced in her Justice Plan 2022 that it would be postponed until quarter 4 of 2022.
Speaking in response to the announcement Treoir CEO Damien Peelo said: “The review of the current legal aid system has already been long overdue. We receive many calls every week on our National Information Service from people who are requiring legal assistance and if they are entitled to legal aid.” “Without a properly funded and functioning legal aid system people do not have access to justice. Right now, many people needing legal representation in court have no alternative but to represent themselves on life-changing issues such as access and custody of their children, guardianship, and maintenance.” Treoir is calling on the Minister to address this issue as a matter of urgency and to begin the review and reform of the state’s legal aid system as planned. ENDS Treoir’s Communications Officer, Sinéad Murray is available for interview. Sinéad: sinead@treoir.ie / 0857352959 |