Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will have a role in the drafting of the new criminal legal aid legislation she is proposing; if the authority will be consulted on its contents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24549/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently preparing legislation to give effect to the Government's commitments to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to strengthen aspects of its operation. It is my intention to consult with all relevant stake-holders in the development of this legislation including the Legal Services Regulatory Authority which may wish to make appropriate observations to make in this regard. In keeping with normal practice, the drafting of any new legislation will be a matter for my Department under the relevant Government decision and in conjunction with the Offices of Parliamentary Counsel and of the Attorney General.

It should also be noted that, while the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will be the statutory regulator of all legal practitioners and the body to which complaints concerning legal practitioners are submitted, it has no specific statutory function in relation to the administration of criminal legal aid.