Vol. 397 No. 9
25 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Justice when legislation will be introduced to place the legal aid service on a statutory basis; when the present vacancies on the Civil Legal Aid Board will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
41 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, in light of his recent statement pledging to introduce legislation as soon as possible to place the scheme of civil legal aid on a statutory basis, if he will commit himself to a definite timescale for such introduction.
44 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, in light of the resignation of three members of the Civil Legal Aid Board including that of the chairperson and the virtual collapse of civil legal aid services, the steps it is intended to take to put the civil legal aid system on a proper footing; when the vacancies on the board will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 41 and 44 together.
I would refer Deputies to the speech delivered on my behalf by the Minister for Social Welfare on 20 February last during a debate on a Private Member's Motion on legal aid. This speech covers comprehensively the matters raised in these Questions and there is nothing that I can usefully add except that I am happy to announce that I have today appointed Mr. Vincent Landy, Senior Counsel to be chairman of the board. I have also appointed Mr. Donagh McDonagh, BL, Mr. Anthony Taaffe, Solicitor and Mr. Jack Marrinan to be members of the board. The preparation of draft legislation to place the present administrative scheme on a statutory footing is continuing. When Government approval for the Bill is given, it will come before the House in the usual way. I cannot be more specific than that because of the other legislative demands on my Department at present.
