John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Legal Services Regulation Bill represents a major response on the part of the Government to 14 recommendations made by the Competition Authority, an agency of the State which is statutorily empowered to advise the Government on issues relating to proposals for legislation and the implications for competition. The amendment would remove that function, which would not be acceptable. Ultimately, the Government is responsible for taking policy decisions and must weigh up competing and often conflicting policies. Competition is only one of the many factors the Government must take into account when reviewing the wider policy issues at stake. The position in Northern Ireland is much the same. As it is not appropriate to make the Government answerable to an unelected statutory body which has a single focused view on given matters, it would not be appropriate to accept the amendment.

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