Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today that he is in favour of regulating the legal profession and that the Department of Justice is looking at the issue.
During Leaders' Questions this morning. Mr Ahern said that the idea of self-regulation is something from "other times" and that "the world over it is not nowadays seen as a great idea".
He told the Dáil that although the Government had not made any decisions, the legal profession could follow in the footsteps of accountants.
He said: "A number of years ago [the accountancy profession] moved to a different administrative system where there is now a body that examines it and looks at it and that is working extremely well."
"I'm not saying that that is what we're going to do but that is an area that has worked and has worked to my knowledge to great satisfaction".
The Taoiseach added that the Department of Justice is currently looking at various models of regulation for the legal profession.
Mr Ahern was answering questions from the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on the issue.
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