Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The Legal Services Ombudsman Act 2009 was signed into law by President McAleese on 10 March 2009, almost 12 months ago. The position of legal services ombudsman has not yet been established. During the debate on the legislation, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, stated the Legal Services Ombudsman Bill 2008 strengthens the mechanisms for dealing with complaints against both solicitors and barristers and that the Bill will establish a legal services ombudsman who "will oversee the handling by the Law Society and the Bar Council of three classes of complaint against solicitors and barristers, namely inadequate services, excessive fees and misconduct". I mention this because at least one citizen approached me who was delighted when the legislation was passed. The citizen appeared to have had a very sound grievance. Despite this, 11 months later and almost 12, nothing has happened. Can the Leader find out what is happening in this area? What is delaying the legislation which was passed in the House and signed by the President last March? It is quite urgent.

Since I became a Member many years ago, I discovered there seems to be a difference between the meaning of "urgency" in State organisations and its meaning outside of them. There seems to be a delay in completing work that may not seem important at the time but which is regarded as quite important to some citizens. In this case, what is to be done is of great import to quite a number of citizens.