Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

From listening to the Minister's thoughts in this regard, a possible solution is to be found. The Minister intends to engage with the Law Society on the issue of staffing and when he does so, I ask him also to consider this issue with its representatives. I hear his fundamental objections to the suggestion that the Law Society will continue to have the powers of discipline and enforcement. However, from reading the Law Society's presentation, over which I am glancing again, and from the Minister's comments, there may be some way of addressing the core issue, which is that the insurers can be assured that this fund is protected. As for the concerns about duplication or that bureaucracy might slow down a swift response to a crisis that would have an impact on the fund, it would be helpful were a way to be found to demonstrate clearly to the insurers that this will be a highly fluid, fast-moving and co-operative process. Obviously, there are no amendments pertaining to this debate but I ask the Minister to deal with this matter when he meets the Law Society. From reading its presentation, this is a genuine concern. The fund is in the public interest and everyone wants to protect it and to make sure it works effectively. Consequently, I believe there is room for manoeuvre and negotiation to make this stronger and better.