Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 32, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:

"(d)1 shall be a person nominated for such appointment by the Law Society of Ireland (or any successor of it)".

This amendment provides that a nominee from the Law Society of Ireland should be permitted on the board. I advance it on the basis that while some solicitors and ambulance chasers have contributed to the problem of high litigation costs, there are doubtless many worthwhile, earnest and serious practitioners who would have something positive to contribute to the board. Given that the board is to be given new powers to review legal procedures and associated processes, it is also important that a representative of the Law Society of Ireland would be able to have a positive input into such a review. The Minister of State is a very fair-minded man and I am sure he accepts this point. I strongly urge him to consider my amendment further.