Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 15, before section 9, to insert the following new section:“12.—For the purposes of this Act, the professional principles are the principles that barristers and solicitors providing legal services should adhere to and include—

(a) maintaining and protecting the proper and effective administration of justice,
(b) acting with independence in the interests of justice,
(c) acting with integrity,
(d) acting in the best interests of their clients, except where that conflicts with a paramount interest in the proper and effective administration of justice, in which case the latter interest must prevail at all times,
(e) keeping the affairs of clients confidential unless disclosure is otherwise required in accordance with law,
(f) maintaining proper standards of work,
(g) when exercising before any court a right of audience, or conducting litigation in relation to proceedings in any court, by virtue of being barristers or solicitors, complying with their duty to act with independence in the overriding interests of justice at all times,
(h) meeting their obligations under any of the rules or codes of conduct applying to their profession as regulated by the Authority under this Act, and
(i) acting in conformity with professional ethics and best practice.”.