Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to raise a matter that probably concerns every person in the country, given that most people come into contact with the legal profession, in particular solicitors, at some stage during their lives. As the Taoiseach knows, a number of high profile cases are proceeding through the courts. What concerns me is that the credibility of the profession has been diminished by the activities arising from these circumstances. Obviously, at the end of the day, consumers will have to pick up the tab, either through higher solicitors' fees or higher bank charges.

One of the features of concern to me is that the information on some of these cases was brought to the attention of the Law Society as long ago as 2002. In that context, the matter of self-regulation is called into question. I note that the vast majority of practising solicitors I have encountered have done their job as per the requirements of the profession and in an absolutely above-board manner. However, cases where clients' money has been called into question, which is a no-go area for practising solicitors, do down the profession.

Is the Taoiseach satisfied self-regulation is working in the way it should? Will he comment on the report of the Competition Authority, which the Government has had since last December, which recommended that there should be an independent legal services commission to take over the day-to-day regulation of the legal services while leaving the Law Society to represent the profession? This is a matter of genuine concern to many people who do not understand the intricacies of the law or the details with which solicitors must deal. Is the Taoiseach satisfied with self-regulation, which clearly has not worked to the extent it should? Does the Government intend to follow through on the Competition Authority report and implement an independent legal commission to run the services of the legal profession?

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