Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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348. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the communication held between his Department with the Law Society regarding the effect of the services directive or of Statutory Instrument 533/2010 in implementing the services directive, on the current laws and regulations restricting commercial communications by solicitors, including their continued enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28457/15]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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349. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any provision has been made or recommended by his Department for either this year or a coming year for claims against the State for losses arising from a failure by the State to fully or correctly bring all its existing laws and restrictions on commercial communications by legal professionals into compliance with the provisions of the services directive; if so, the sum that has been estimated as appropriate, in view of the 1,650% increase in such investigations initiated by the Law Society between 2012 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28458/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

While my Department has general coordination responsibility for the Services Directive, matters that concern the implications of the Services Directive for specific sectors are dealt with by the Department that has sectoral responsibility for that specific area. Consequently, the implications of the Services Directive on the law governing commercial communications by legal professionals, including solicitors, are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Accordingly, there have not been any communications between my Department and the Law Society in this context, and it would not be necessary for my Department to make any provision in respect of claims against the State in this regard.