Seanad debates

Thursday, 5 June 2008

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Labour)

Until the final few sentences, the Minister of State's reply was interesting and compelling but it had nothing to do with my amendment, which addresses a narrow issue in respect of the negligence of solicitors. I do not have an objection to the matter being dealt with in other legislation, if this is what the Minister of State is proposing, although he stated the issue "can be addressed" in the context of other legislation. If he was indicating that it will be dealt with in that other legislation, I would be much more reassured. I see Senator Walsh is present. We previously had a brief discussion in the House about legal costs. I would welcome a wide-ranging debate on the question of legal costs. I think Senator Regan would agree with me. Such a debate would provide us with an opportunity to address the serious issues that exist and perhaps address many of the misinformation that exists as well. This is a wider debate that ought to be held.

What I am proposing in this amendment is much narrower. It relates to the question of negligent solicitors and has arisen in some recent decisions in the Master's Court, if I am not mistaken. It is something that needs to be dealt with even if we were not dealing with the wider issue of legal costs. If the Minister of State can or is willing to indicate to me that it will be addressed in the context of that other legislation mentioned by him, I would be prepared to take that commitment on board.

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