Chinese Ministry of Justice Delegation Visit Bar Council

2015

On Monday 8^th June 2015 members of the Chinese Ministry of Justice visited the Bar Council as part of the China-EU Access to Justice Programme. Members of the delegation included Ms. Bai Ping, Director-General of the National Legal Aid Centre, Chinese Ministry of Justice, along with a number of other delegates from both the Legal Aid Centre and the Legal Aid Department of the Ministry of Justice of China. The Bar Council delegation was led by Chairman David Barniville SC and Director Ciara Murphy and included Paul McGarry SC, Mary Rose Gearty SC, Felix McEnroy SC, Tony McGillicuddy BL, Imogen McGrath BL, and David Dodd BL. 

The China-EU Access to Justice Programme aims to support China’s effort in strengthening access to justice to disadvantaged groups in regions with less developed legal infrastructure and in less economically developed areas. The delegation were particularly interested in current arrangements and any proposed changes to the Irish legal aid system, quality assurance and public legal education and the Law Library members in attendance made very informative contributions to the discussion.

During their visit to Ireland, the delegation also met with the Irish Legal Aid Board, the Department of Justice and Equality and visited Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) in Meath Street and Dorset Street.