The Bar Council has said the Legal Services Regulation Bill, which was published today, raises fundamental concerns about the administration of justice in this country and access to legal services for members of the public.
In a statement, the Bar Council said the bill went far beyond implementing the outstanding recommendations of the Competition Authority and the EU/IMF Programme of support.
The Council said it had concerns over the proposed Legal Services Regulatory Authority.
It said it was also concerned about the introduction of multidisciplinary practices and partnerships and their impact on access to justice for the public at a time when there have been serious cutbacks in legal aid.
The Bar Council said the bill would increase costs, due to more regulation and bureaucracy.
It said it would reduce competition and create further obstacles for entrants to the legal profession.
The Bar Council Chairman, Senior Counsel, Paul O'Higgins said an independent legal profession was the cornerstone of democracy and the Bar Council was determined to protect that principle.
Mr O'Higgins said the Bar Council had been engaged in a reform process over the last decade and had implemented 11 of the 15 recommendations of the 2006 Competition Authority Report.
He said legal costs had been declining dramatically over recent years, with severe cuts in criminal and civil cases.
He said the Bill went beyond the Competition Authority's recommendations in relation to the proposed regulatory structure and the extent of the oversight granted to the Government of the day.
Mr O'Higgins said the Bar Council would consider the Bill further and would engage with members of the Government, Opposition and all other interested parties.
