Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 150:

In page 124, line 35, after “may” to insert “not”.

I am concerned that the authority may, by regulation, declare people qualified. In this day and age, people should acquire the qualifications. Particular emphasis is placed on experience. If we are trying to upgrade to a smart economy and a society of well-qualified individuals, then people who want to be solicitors should be qualified as solicitors, people who want to be barristers should be qualified as barristers and people who want to be both should be qualified as both. We have educational institutions and law schools which can provide this education, rather than doing it by regulation by an administrative body as proposed in the Bill. With a fair amount of common ground, we need a very well educated legal profession and it requires the traditional way of acquiring qualifications rather than just experience.