Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The Senator has made a relevant point. The matter has also been discussed by Ministers at meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. There is a real need Europe-wide to do more on e-conveyancing. The Law Society of Ireland has done a lot on the subject. Also, I have spoken to Minister Noonan about financial institutions because the banks need to do more on this matter. If they can do more, and work in co-operation with solicitors and law firms, then I think we will begin to see a change.

I say to Senator Barrett that I would be happy, when the LSRA is established, to take up the points that he made on conveyancing. I shall ask the authority if it is feasible for it to do this study that we would like it to do, as well as the ones that have been legislated for within a given period. We do not want to ask the authority to do too much in its first year.