Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On amendments Nos. 183, 185, 188, 189, 197 to 200, inclusive, and 202 to 211, inclusive, obviously we have a difference in policy. I accept that. However, I want to put on record on Report Stage that these amendments reflect Sinn Féin's opposition to the multidisciplinary practices where solicitors, barristers and accountants operate one practice under the same roof and the same company. The evidence we have reviewed shows us that this model has failed internationally. Our fear is that the best and brightest will be secured by the wealthiest in our society. Big business and large corporations, in particular, will be the ones to gain to the detriment of the average citizen seeking legal representation.

We are very much concerned for the people in rural areas and smaller towns who do not have the wherewithal to go to a big firm and are looking to the smaller companies in their local area to represent them. They will not have the resources that these MDPs would have. We want a level playing pitch for all citizens and we are particularly concerned that citizens in these rural communities should be able to access the barrister with the appropriate skills to represent them through the offices of a local solicitor, as is generally the case at present.

I take the Minister's point that this is definitely a difference of policy. It is obviously part of the Government's policy to go towards this more corporate version of the legal practice and that is where we differ on policy.