Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of the issues this Bill was supposed to deal with - in which it has not succeeded, although amendments have been made - was the cost of accessing justice for citizens. One of the challenges for the legal fraternity in terms of its reputation is to look increasingly at its role as an advocate for citizens in terms of their rights and to ensure there is affordable access to the legal system and a change in how we conduct law in this country from the archaic, very expensive and, arguably, elitist judicial system, as some people perceive it. I have much admiration for people in the legal fraternity, but there are perceptions, which are sometimes the reality, about how the system has worked.

It is a serious omission. The Minister could easily increase the number on the board to 13, an argument I made to the Minister's predecessor, and provide a place at the table for organisations such as the Free Legal Advice Centres, which are strongly respected, the ICCL and other groups that are champions or advocates for the citizen and that challenge all of us in terms of how the administration of justice works. Having people of that calibre on the authority could only strengthen it. They would be alternative voices. I ask the Minister to consider seriously the error of not including them on this board for the sake of two extra places. The Minister argues that ICTU and IBEC need not be on the authority because it is not a social partnership model, and I reluctantly accept that point. However, I do not understand why she cannot include the advocacy organisations that are so respected in the community and that could bring a dynamic to the authority that does not exist based on the current membership.

See this speech in context