COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE
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Department: Northern Ireland AssemblyPublished: 2010-06-22 20:07:07PRESS RELEASE 18 June 2010 JUS 04/09/10 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE QUIZZES REPRESENTATIVES ON LEGAL AID ISSUES The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Justice has turned its attention to the soaring cost of the Legal Aid bill in Northern Ireland and the proposed changes to the system. Representatives from the Law Society for Northern Ireland and the Bar Council attended the Committee meeting yesterday to discuss Legal Aid funding and answer questions on concerns they have raised about the proposed changes which are aimed at reducing the cost of Legal Aid. Speaking after the meeting Chairman of the Committee, Lord Morrow, MLA said: “The Committee is committed to ensuring access to justice. However, there is clearly a need to tackle the soaring cost of legal aid in Northern Ireland 1 which is significantly higher than in most other countries. The monies made available for policing and justice following devolution will mean the Legal Aid bill will need to be reduced by a quarter by 2013 (from £104 million to £79 million) to avoid possible impact on other essential services such as education or health. “The Committee is aware that the Law Society and the Bar Council are in negotiation with the Courts Service on parts of the proposed changes and we wanted to hear their views before reaching any decisions. The Committee has made it clear that any alternative proposals put forward for consideration by either organisation must deliver the necessary reductions in cost.” ENDS Notes to Editors: 1. The cost of Legal Aid in Northern Ireland has more than doubled in the last 10 years from £38 million in 2000/01 to £103 million in 2009/10. Membership of the Committee: The Chairman of the Committee is Lord Morrow MLA. The Deputy Chairman is Raymond McCartney MLA. The Committee has a further nine members: Mr Jonathan Bell MLA Mr Tom Elliott MLA Mr Alban Maginness MLA Mr Conall McDevitt MLA Mr David McNarry MLA Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA Mr John O´Dowd MLA Mr Alastair Ross MLA All enquiries regarding the work of the Committee should be directed to the Committee Clerk: Christine Darrah Room 242, Parliament Buildings, Ballymiscaw, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3XX Telephone: (028) 9052 1629 Fax: (028) 9052 1371 E-mail: committee.justice@niassembly.gov.uk Media enquiries to: Jennifer Pleavin Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 1606 Mobile : 07502 379339 Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk Sinead Murphy Deputy Communications Officer Northern Ireland Assembly Phone: 028 9052 5938 Mobile : 07899 864368 Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk This government news item was published on the Northern Ireland Assembly website on the 22 June 2010. To read the full story/press release, please click on the button below (opens in an embedded window):
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