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

I do not agree with the Senator's analysis. It is about offering different models of legal services to the public. It is about choice. The 2006 Competition Authority report, the vast majority of the recommendations of which we are implementing, highlights the need for a choice of different legal models. Sinn Féin is staying with the status quo. The Government is proposing to introduce choice.

I do not agree with the Senator's use of the word "corporate". It is not about corporations. Under the changes proposed, greater choice will be offered to the public in any town around the country. It is in the consumer's interest to have greater choice. What the Senator is saying is obviously quite different from what other Senators are saying. Other Senators are suggesting that we should accelerate the process towards multidisciplinary partnerships whereas the Senator is saying we should not go there at all.