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that are incredibly stressful and which they are not used to. They do not understand how it works and the provision of legal advice and counsel in advance of that happening, particularly when we are talking about domestic violence, could be very helpful for their navigating the process … deals with differentiating domestic violence victims or people involved in those proceedings from others. I think this is appropriate. Where civil legal aid is provided, the people who are perhaps in the most dire circumstances are very often those who are the victims of domestic violence disputes

budget 2027, is that of the need to address certain underlying issues within the operation of the civil legal aid scheme, with a particular focus on private practitioner fees, counsel fees and the rates of fees paid to experts providing supports, particularly in child and family cases under … current demand and be ready to respond to future demand changes. The civil legal aid review group in its 2025 report noted the following to be the case. The structure for fees paid to counsel and fees paid in certain family law cases in the District Court under

community-based services; — provide immediate and practical protection for families targeted by drug gangs, including emergency accommodation, relocation where necessary, counselling, family support and access to appropriate legal assistance; — develop a national programme to prevent the recruitment and exploitation of children and young people by drug gangs, including

they want to, or we can try to get a flexible structure in place based on the expert legal opinion of a very eminent senior counsel. We are very clear. We have published the Remy Farrell report in full. It is important to do that from the perspective

more serious questions if we decided to ignore the independent scoping inquiry and what the independent senior counsel has said. It is utterly wrong, and legally wrong, to suggest that a commission of inquiry is all or mainly held in private. The Taoiseach as the head … place Mr. Farrell who, I am sure Deputy Rice will accept, is completely independent. He is a very robust and competent senior counsel. We have published his report for all to see and we will now see that there is engagement. The Department of Health will work closely

tribunal also potentially means senior counsel questioning parents. We have to be careful about the meaning of these different things in both directions and how we protect children who have their own independent rights under the Constitution and how their legal rights are protected. There is no desire

collaborative approach to the terms of reference. The argument can be made that the Minister has to devolve responsibility to a senior counsel to understand what the most appropriate forum is, but the Minister is an experienced politician. So is the Tánaiste, Deputy Harris. The Minister knew exactly … inquest, they were originally told they would probably get one. They were then told "No", and it was only because they initiated legal proceedings that they were finally granted one. It is also important to say that a HSE official told them that if they ever spoke

approval processes; backed decision makers across the public service with a clearer approach to risk; and taken steps to reduce the number of legal cases that can hold up critical projects for years. The reforms we are delivering at pace are moving us quickly in the right direction … mental health, delivering: increased resourcing for early intervention, crisis supports and new ADHD pathways in CAMHS; 33,000 extra hours of free counselling for men, young people and the LGBTQI+ community; and investment in targeted suicide prevention initiatives to support the Traveller community. The NDP will fund