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

The points Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has just raised are dealt with in amendments Nos. 33, 35 and 36. We are making provision for the staff working in the Law Society of Ireland who are currently handling complaints to transfer. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell raised a question about qualifications. As laid out in the Bill, the reference is to staff who have experience of dealing with complaints.There was cross-party agreement in the Dáil that the transfer was appropriate for a certain number of staff who were dealing with complaints and had expertise in this area. It is dealt with primarily under amendments Nos. 33, 35 and 36. The amendment we are dealing with now is the Senator’s request to have consultation with the professional legal bodies. There is adequate opportunity for the legal services regulatory authority to consult with the legal professional bodies. In the consultations afterwards, when they are drawing up the various reports, the legal professional bodies will also have an opportunity to put their points of view. It will be part of the work. Given that it is a legal services regulatory authority, there would be consultation with the relevant bodies.