Vol. 481 No. 7
243 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the recent legal notice dated 3 October 1997, announcing the appointment of an independent adjudicator of the Law Society; the statutory instrument under which this adjudicator was appointed; and, if not, how the appointment was made. [17151/97]
244 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount being paid per annum to the independent adjudicator of the Law Society; and if it is a full-time or part-time appointment. [17152/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
The Law Society of Ireland made the Solicitors (Adjudicator) Regulations, 1997 (S. I. No. 406 of 1997) on 26 September 1997 in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 71, as amended by section 69 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994 of the Solicitors Act, 1954. Under these regulations, the Law Society established a scheme for the examination or investigation by an adjudicator of written complaints concerning the handling by the Law Society of complaints about solicitors.
I understand that an adjudicator has been appointed on a part-time basis pursuant to the above regulations. Under the regulations, the terms and conditions of the adjudicator's appointment, including remuneration, is a matter for agreement between the Law Society and the adjudicator.
I am satisfied that the scheme established by these regulations is consistent with the objective of section 15 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994 which made provision for the establishment of an adjudicator scheme. I propose, nevertheless, to keep the operation of this scheme under review.
