Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 14, after line 42, to insert the following:

4.—The Solicitors Act 1954 is further amended as follows:

(a) by deleting section 40(6);

(b) by the insertion of the following after section 40—

"40A.—Regulations under the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008 may not prescribe any examination in connection with the Irish language other than the voluntary examination referred to in the Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Act 2008.";

(c) by the deletion in section 43(2)(a) (as substituted by section 51 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994) of "and (if obligatory on him) the second examination in the Irish language which is referred to in the said section 40";

(d) by the deletion in section 43(2)(c) (as substituted by section 51 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994) of "and (if obligatory on him) the second examination in the Irish language";

(e) by the deletion of section 43(4) (as substituted by section 51 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994).

This amendment seeks to tidy up references to the Solicitors Acts and to ensure an Irish examination cannot be introduced through the back door by way of regulation. The Minister's previous amendment addresses the second issue.

The Minister indicated on Committee Stage that the tidying up aspects were covered by his amendment No. 19. Given the Minister's assurance that the necessary tidying up of references to previous legislation is being addressed, I do not propose to press this amendment.

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