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O'Callaghan defends legal aid reforms and rejects call for apology

Ireland's justice minister says he has offered solicitors a deal, while outlining tougher shoplifting measures and security plans for European meetings in Dublin.

Channel: RTÉ News ·

IrelandStory of November 11, 2026Trari Newsroom

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Jim O’Callaghan defends legal aid changes | Prime Time

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0:29O'Callaghan outlines possible exclusion zones for repeat retail offenders, then says bail laws are being examined.
2:03He explains Dublin's selection for European meetings and says 5,000 Gardaí will be available.
4:41Addressing bomb threats, he says Gardaí have been equipped with anti-drone technology.
6:18He supports the right to protest but says motorway and critical-infrastructure blockades will not be tolerated.
7:08The title's legal aid dispute begins here: he defends District Court reforms following judicial criticism.
8:10He confirms an offer to solicitors concerning elongated cases and rejects owing an apology for adjournments.

Jim O'Callaghan says he has made a fair offer to solicitors over criminal legal aid, but rejects the suggestion that he should apologise for cases being adjourned during the dispute.

Speaking on Prime Time, in coverage from Ireland's public broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ News), the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration defended pursuing changes to the District Court scheme despite a court judgment criticising them.

"I think it's absolutely essential that there are reforms in the criminal legal aid scheme in the District Court," he said. Asked about the disruption, he placed responsibility on solicitors who had withdrawn their services: "I didn't withdraw my services from the District Court. Solicitors refused to provide their services."

O'Callaghan confirmed that an offer concerning elongated cases had been made that evening. The interview presents his defence of the reforms and his response to the adjournments, rather than an announcement that the dispute has been resolved.

The discussion also covers his proposed response to repeat shoplifting. Following a report on retail crime, he outlined possible exclusion zones for repeat offenders and said he was examining bail laws. These were measures under consideration, not changes he said were already in force.

On security for high-level European meetings in Dublin, O'Callaghan said 5,000 Gardaí, Ireland's police officers, would be available around the capital over the following three days. Addressing recent bomb threats, he said police had been equipped with anti-drone technology, which he described as working effectively.

Planned fuel protests brought a distinction between the right to demonstrate and disruption to essential routes. O'Callaghan said the government respected the right to protest, but that blocking motorways or critical infrastructure would not be tolerated.

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