Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the State, through the Legal Aid Board, is threatening to seek the costs through a High Court action from a father who seeks to act jointly as a legal guardian with the mother of his child in accordance with the Health Service Executive guidelines. [41239/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function or responsibility in relation to the matters raised. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions and decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Board. Under Section 7(3) of the Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which the Legal Aid Board is or may be concerned.

The Deputy might further wish to note that the solicitor/client relationship is protected by privilege in accordance with the terms of Section 32 of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and therefore the Board does not provide information to third parties regarding a person who may or may not be a client of the Board.