A statutory system of legal aid, which had been sought for more than 15 years, is now being put in place, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, announced yesterday.
The implementing regulations and the commencement order which will bring the Civil Legal Aid Act into effect from October 11th have been signed by Mr Taylor.
He said the Act would give a guarantee of permanence to the Legal Aid Board and improve its position with regard to costs.