Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1094. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline, if any, that the Government has to introduce Court and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, to allow barristers and solicitors to jointly provide legal services in Ireland. [63922/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will wish to note that, in October 2016, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority was established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 as the independent statutory regulator for both branches of the legal profession - barristers and solicitors.

The Authority’s remit includes the maintenance and improvement of standards in the provision of legal services and it also accepts and investigates complaints which relate to the provision of legal services by barristers and solicitors, including solicitors’ firms.

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 includes provisions to allow for the commencement of section 100 of the 2015 Act, which will provide for the introduction, of Legal Partnerships i.e., partnerships between solicitors and barristers or between barristers and other barristers.

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2022 completed Committee Stage in the Dail on the 22 November. It is expected that this Bill will commence report stage in the coming weeks before continuing the legislative process.