Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It will appear on her roll of offenders.

I thank Dr. Don Thornhill, Dr. Brian Doherty and Mr. Ultan Ryan for attending the committee.

I know it is a difficult task for the first people who must set up a new statutory body. People look at successful bodies. At the beginning, there is significant work to be done, notwithstanding the fact that the legislation presents it as though it will be easy.

As alluded to by Deputy Clare Daly, the most important point is that the public will have confidence in this body. The Deputy is an able legislator. One of the impressions she conveyed is that the legal profession managed to get this legislation changed for the benefit of itself. I welcome the fact that, as the regulator, Dr. Thornhill, is a lay person. I also welcome the fact that the majority of the people on the board are lay people. It is appropriate that the regulatory body should not be dominated by members of the profession it is regulating. However, is it the case that this regulatory body has been captured by legal interests or the lawyers on its board? What can Dr. Thornhill say to give confidence to the public that he is putting its interests first and foremost in the establishment of this body?

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