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

Consultation with the legal professional bodies is already provided for in several sections of the Bill. It is provided for in dealing with matters such as the authority's drafting of codes of practice under section 20; its review of professional codes under section 21; its review of the operation of the Bill under section 6; and its development of regulations for professional indemnity insurance and legal services advertising. In the earlier discussion I said we would be fully compliant with the EU directive on the advertising of legal services. There are various consultations and reports. Obviously, people involved in the legal professional bodies will have plenty of opportunities to make their views known.

A key purpose of the Bill is to set up an independent authority that will have regard to but be independent of the representative bodies. In that context,it would be a step too far to place a requirement on the authority to consult the legal professional bodies on the staff it may hire to supervise these very bodies. Moreover, the professional bodies will have an adequate say on such matters by virtue of the fact that their nominees will be members of the authority. In these circumstances I cannot accept amendments Nos. 31, 32 and 34.