asked the Minister for Justice the steps, if any, he intends to take to set up a legal services review commission as promised in the Fianna Fáil election manifesto; and if so, when it will be established.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Legal Commission Proposal.
35.
As the Deputy will be aware, almost all of the matters referred to in the proposal in the Fianna Fáil election manifesto to establish a legal services review commission, are being examined by the Restrictive Practices Commission in the course of their current study of the legal profession.
Accordingly, I propose to defer further consideration of the question until the Restrictive Practices Commission have concluded their study, and to review the matter in the light of the outcome of that study.
How does the Minister envisage the operation of a legal service review commission? On what areas will the commission concentrate?
The Restrictive Practices Commission made a public announcement in November 1986 giving details of the matters which will be covered in their proposed study of the legal profession.
In the course of their study, in addition to restrictions on fees and advertising, the commission paid particular attention to the following: the educational and training requirements for admission to the profession of a solicitor or barrister; the division of the legal profession into solicitors and barristers; the number of legal representatives required in a particular case; the limited right of audience of solicitors before the courts; access to a barrister by the client to be only possible by a solicitor; restrictions upon persons with whom solicitors and barristers may join in partnership; limitations upon the form of organisation of solicitors' and barristers' practices; representation on disciplinary bodies being confined to the members of the profession alone.