THE MINISTER for Justice has decided not to proceed with the appointment of a legal services ombudsman, although there has been a competition for the position, advertised late last year.
Alan Shatter is instead preparing new legislation to provide for the regulation of the legal professions, as required by the EU/IMF agreement. Under the agreement the measures, which include the establishment of an independent regulator, must be in place by September.
In a letter to the director general of the Law Society, which has been seen by The Irish Times,an official in the Department of Justice said the Minister has decided "no useful purpose" would be served by making an appointment now in the light of the requirements of the EU-IMF deal.
The letter said the Government has given a commitment under the EU-IMF memorandum to introduce legislation to provide for changes in the regulation of the legal profession.
“In this context, work on a legal services Bill, which is referred to in the Government’s legislative programme, is well-advanced and in the circumstances no useful purpose would be served by the appointment of the Ombudsman at this time.”
It added that separate arrangements had been made through the Public Appointments Service to notify candidates.
The EU-IMF deal commits the Government to “establishing an independent regulator” and the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Competition Authority on the legal profession, published five years ago.
This recommended changes in the provision of education for the two branches of the profession, ending the monopoly of the Law Society and the King’s Inns, and measures to reduce costs.