Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 9

Written Answers. - Restrictive Practices in Legal Profession.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

162 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the steps, if any, which have been taken to implement the recommendations of the Fair Trade Commission report on restrictive practices in the legal profession; and the further steps, if any, he proposes to take in order to have these recommendations implemented.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The Deputy will be aware that some of the Fair Trade Commission — FTC — recommendations for reform were adopted by the legal profession on a voluntary basis and that certain others were taken on board in the Solicitors (Amendment) Bill, 1991 and the Courts and Court Officers Bill, 1991. The Deputy will also be aware that both of these Bills have been withdrawn. Revised Bills are in prepartation in conjunction with the Department of Justice.

I fully support the case for reform that the Deputy pursued as Minister for Industry and Commerce. I have taken up with the Minister for Justice the outstanding recommendations of the FTC on which progress remains to be made. I believe that the case for reform in the legal profession is strengthened by the Moriarty/Culliton Group recommendations on removing restrictions on competition in the professions. I will continue to press the case for reform. I will be seeking to have the outstanding FTC recommendations dealt with in the revised Solicitors and Courts and Court Officers Bills, as soon as these Bills are circulated.