Irish Examiner view: We must look more closely at protests by lawyers and gardaí

The Irish justice system came under pressure on Tuesday as barristers went on strike and gardaí refused voluntary overtime 

'There’s a clear difference in the actions taken, and the reasons for those actions, by those groups, and that difference is worth noting before leaping to conclusions about the legal system as a whole.' Stock picture: Larry Cummins

At first glance, it looked like the entire Irish legal system was collapsing on Tuesday, with lawyers and gardaí alike taking industrial action. Examining the issues more closely, however, reveals a nuanced picture.

Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) refused voluntary overtime on Tuesday, while barristers went on strike. The former took action in protest at the proposed changes to their rostering arrangements, while the latter are seeking the restoration of legal aid fees to pre-financial crash levels.