Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

There could be a united profession in this country as there is in many other countries. Both sides of the legal profession come with skill sets. As I stated, there are 113 solicitors in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and 35 advisory counsel in the Office of the Attorney General who are barristers. For the purposes of legal drafting, traditional training would be more in line with the barrister profession than with the solicitor profession, although that is not exclusively the case. There is a case to be made for considering some reforms in this area and making some appointments - in both directions - to assist cross-pollination.

On the question of changes that need to be made and which are referred to in the EU-IMF plan, the plan indicates legislative changes that the Government will introduce to remove restrictions to trade and competition. Details regarding the legal profession would be by way of publication of proposals that in due course would be approved by Government in this area. The legal costs Bill will provide for better regulation of costs. It is also intended to establish a regulator to replace the Office of the Taxing Master. Consideration is being given in the legal costs Bill to the question generally of more independent regulation of the legal professions.

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