Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The other question I wanted to ask is about the partnerships to which Senator McDowell referred. How far away are we from having multidisciplinary partnerships. I fundamentally disagree with the notion that having barristers and solicitors in partnerships together is going to increase competition. In fact, one of the things that established competition within the legal service in this country is the independent referral Bar. When there is a situation where people are tied to each other, consumers cannot necessarily shop around. If they go to a particular solicitor and a certain barrister is involved in a partnership with that solicitor, that may be the only option available to them. The diminution of the independent referral Bar is problematic. It affects competition in a negative way rather than in the way that Dr. Doherty claimed earlier. That was more of a statement than a question. I am sorry about that.