Written answers

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Proposed Legislation

10:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made on the drafting of the Legal Costs Bill and the Family Law Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/12]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Bill dealing with the reform of the legal sector and of legal costs, to which I assume the Deputy is referring, is the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011. Part 9 of the Bill, which comprises five chapters, makes extensive provision in relation to the charging and adjudication of legal costs supported by the Principles Relating to Legal Costs which are set out, for the first time in statute, under Schedule 1 of the Bill. In addition to making legal costs and the basis upon which they are charged more transparent to consumers of legal services, the Bill provides that determinations made about legal costs by the new Legal Costs Adjudicator will be made public. Under the Bill, the Adjudicator is to assume the role of the existing Taxing-Master and will also be empowered to issue legal costs guidelines.

The Legal Services Regulation Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 23rd February, 2012. In closing the Second Stage debate I have outlined the approaches being taken to enhancing the Bill in preparation for Committee Stage. Work on the details of the proposed amendments to the Bill is ongoing at my Department including in conjunction with the Offices of the Attorney General and of Parliamentary Counsel and the amendments will, as I have previously explained, be made available in advance of Committee Stage. It remains my objective, notwithstanding the competing legislative demands of our EU/IMF/ECB Programme commitments, that Committee Stage of the Legal Services Regulation Bill commence before the summer recess. In relation to the Family Law Bill, proposals are being advanced in my Department as quickly as possible, subject to the disposal of other priorities.

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