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

Amendments Nos. 32 and 33 are Government amendments which are intended to reflect the fact the new authority, which is to be self-funding by means of a levy on the legal professions it is regulating, will have clear discretion to use any fees it raises in support of carrying out its functions independently under the Bill. I would like to mention at this point that I may come back with a proposal on Report Stage to delete subsection (3) of section 28. The new authority will be funded through its levy rather than through the Exchequer, save for some start-up support being provided on a recoupable basis.

In the context of Senator Barrett's amendment, the new authority must be able to charge and recover fees without being subject to the approval of an external body or group which may have an interest in its remit.