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

The provisions relate to the new authority’s issuing its own codes of practice as opposed to the codes of the legal professional bodies. In this regard, it is right that the relevant powers be exercised as the independent regulatory authority considers appropriate and that a legal professional affected by a code of the authority, which may be considered to be oppressive, unreasonable or unnecessary, can seek the protection of the High Court. These measures enable the independent discretion of the new authority to act as appropriate to its independent regulatory functions while also protecting the independence of the legal profession from being undermined by the provisions of a code of practice. They are necessary.