The selection process for membership of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority is built around a framework of ten prescribed nominating bodies as set out in section 9 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, one of them being the Bar Council. The ten prescribed nominating bodies put forward their nominees under the procedures set out in Part 2 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. They do this as appropriate to their functions and objectives as may be set out, in each case, under legislation or under common law. It is for each of those bodies, in the first instance, to identify their nominees for membership of the new Regulatory Authority under their applicable internal governance procedures. Specifically, it is for the Council of the Bar of Ireland, as a private body, to competently conduct the indoor management of the Council and to oversee the conduct of its own business in accordance with its own rules and procedures.
Having asked officials of my Department to write to the Bar Council to formally confirm the position, a letter of reply, dated 14 October 2016, has been received from the Director of the Bar Council which has formally confirmed that the Bar Council is satisfied that the internal procedures in respect of its nominations to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority were followed.