Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 2

Written Answers. - Legal Services.

John Bruton

Question:

50 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the implications for Ireland following the decision of the United Kingdom Bar Council to offer legal services direct to consumers without the intermediation of a solicitor; and his views on this development here. [12846/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent announcement of the decision of the General Council of the Bar in England and Wales to operate, on a pilot basis, what they refer to as the bar direct scheme. Under the scheme, as I understand it, certain large corporate organisations, public bodies and trade union organisations may be licensed to brief barristers directly without the requirement to engage a solicitor. The scheme is the result of an initiative by the Bar Council and reports seem to indicate that it may be a response, in part, to legislation which proposes to allow solicitors to have wider rights of audience in higher courts. The scheme would give barristers wider and more direct access to clients and it could have implications for legal costs in the cases which are covered by the scheme.

I have no doubt that the initiative of the Bar Council of England and Wales will be closely monitored by the Bar Council of Ireland. It would be the intention of my Department to maintain an interest in the matter with other relevant Departments with a view to the question of the most effective and economic delivery of legal services to the public. I should also add that the Bar Council of Ireland already operates a scheme known as direct professional access. Under that scheme, the council may authorise exceptions to the general professional rule that barristers must act on the instructions of a solicitor. I understand that the system is directed to organisations which have a significant requirement to retain the services of a barrister. About 20 organisations benefit from the arrangement at present.