Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 2015

Vol. 244 No. 9

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Motions

An Cathaoirleach

On 2 December 2015, the Seanad sent the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 to the Dáil with 280 amendments to which the agreement of the Dáil was sought. The Dáil considered those amendments and agreed to amendments Nos. 1 to 60, inclusive, 62 to 75, inclusive, 77 to 88, inclusive, 91 to 94, inclusive, 96, 97, 99 to 192, inclusive, 194 to 256, inclusive, and 258 to 280, inclusive, but made changes to amendments Nos. 61, 76, 89, 90, 95, 98, 193 and 257. The amendments made in the Dáil are technical amendments and will be taken individually.

I will call on the Deputy Leader to move the motion suggesting the action to be taken by the Seanad and then on the Minister to explain the decisions taken by the Dáil. I remind Senators that each Senator may speak only once on each amendment.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the first amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 61.

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

The proposed amendments are purely correctional relating to such matters as cross referencing, the reinstatement of omitted words, the removal of superfluous words or the slight restructuring of a section to ensure absolute clarity. In amendment No. 61, (7) should read (6) and (6) should read (5).

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the second amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 61.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 76.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

This amendment gives greater clarity to ensure that there is early resolution and that mediation is used. It is a clarifying amendment.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 89.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

This is a drafting correctional amendment to restore text which was omitted during the course of the amendment being made on Committee Stage in the Seanad.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 90.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

This is where a witness is called and the tribunal takes a decision that expenses should be given back. It is to insert after "Authority" the phrase "or the legal practitioner". The legal practitioner concerned would be subject to paying back the witness's expenses.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 95.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

This is a drafting correctional amendment which corrects a cross reference.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 98.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

The words "or" and "and" were there, so this is to remove the word "and".

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 193.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

Instead of "cause" the word should have been "caused".

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Ivana Bacik

I move:

That the Seanad do agree to the amendment made by the Dáil to Seanad amendment No. 257.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

This is the citation relating to the Solicitors Acts. One citation was omitted so it is being inserted.

Question put and agreed to.

An Cathaoirleach

A message will be sent to the Dáil to inform it of those decisions.

Sitting suspended at 4.10 p.m. and resumed at 4.30 p.m.