David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a point that Deputy McGrath reminded me of when he mentioned senior citizens. It has been said to me on numerous occasions that if a member of the public has a complaint against a member of the legal profession, be it a solicitor or barrister, when he or she approaches other members of the legal profession to assist in making the complaint, he or she might be told that the legal practitioner does not wish to get involved by taking the case or assisting the person. Often the person can be left in a situation in which it is not possible to get legal assistance, but he or she has no legal background. The question of how somebody can get assistance if he or she finds all the doors are shut might be worth considering. We cannot compel solicitors to take cases but perhaps there might be some avenue or approach whereby somebody can get assistance if he or she is totally frustrated and intimidated by the legal process. It is a point the Minister and the various societies might consider taking on board and addressing in some way.