Donegal barrister Aoife McNickle BL is one of a group of barristers planning to withdraw services as part of a protest over case fees.
Ms McNickle, from Gortahork, is a member of The Bar of Ireland, which has recommended a one-day withdrawal of services on Tuesday October 3rd.
Criminal law practitioners are seeking higher fees payable to barristers by the Director of Public Prosecutions and under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) scheme.
The proposed action will take place across all courts where criminal work is undertaken.
Fees paid to barristers by the State through the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, and through the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme remain below 2002 levels in nominal terms, following a range of cuts applied during the financial emergency.
Aoife McNickle BL said: “Barristers are being treated differently to other members of the criminal justice system. Despite delivering a range of changed work practices and reforms that have delivered significant efficiencies for the criminal justice system, the Government has refused to recognise this by means of fee restoration.
“The Bar of Ireland has been attempting to engage with Government on this matter for seven years and, having exhausted every avenue available to them, we have now lost confidence in Government’s commitment to the preservation of the highest standards in the administration of justice and in the existing mechanism for determining the fees payable to barristers practising criminal law.”
