{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/6a58a164cebd1afd44b188eb?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Louth Solicitor Warns Legal Aid Dispute Is Reaching Breaking Point - 16/07/2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/1784188431845-ad8dd089-67ee-4b40-84e4-526d2ba2323c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Last week on the programme we spoke to Drogheda criminal solicitor Paddy Goodwin about the growing dispute over the Government's new flat-fee criminal legal aid scheme and the concerns it could have for access to justice and the operation of the courts.</p><p><br></p><p>Since then, the dispute has continued to escalate. Solicitors from across Ireland travelled to Leinster House yesterday to meet with their local Oireachtas representatives to outline the impact they say the new payment model is having, while earlier this week Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan made it clear he would not reverse the decision to introduce the €520 flat fee for criminal legal aid cases.</p><p><br></p><p>Paddy Goodwin joined us on The Agenda this morning to give us the latest on the ongoing situation and to tell us about how things went yesterday at Leinster House.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"lmfm "}