Sir, - The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, is to be commended for bringing forward proposals for the improved regulation of accountants. Perhaps Mr O'Donoghue would now bring forward similar proposals for the one profession for which there is no statutory regulation of any kind. Unlike accountants, solicitors, doctors, nurses, gardai, dentists, veterinary surgeons, opticians or auctioneers, there is no legislation regulating barristers. The profession operates a form of self-regulation designed to hoodwink the public into thinking there is adequate supervision of the profession. The exact opposite is the case. In the only independent examination of disciplinary procedures within the barristers' profession ever undertaken, the Fair Trade Commission reported in 1990 that a barrister had not been disbarred in decades. How is it that judges are forced to resign, that medical consultants are struck off, but not one of the 1,200 barristers has ever been thrown out of the profession?
The answer lies in the insinuation of barristers into the State's political institutions, in particular through the office of Attorney General, whose continued involvement in the affairs of the Bar Council was criticised in the Fair Trade Commission Report. The influence of barristers has now been further reinforced through the newly created post of Legal Adviser to the Oireachtas. The very people who advise the government on legislation are not likely to suggest legislation to regulate themselves.
Surely it is time for an independent legal ombudsman to deal with complaints from members of the public and to expose some of the misconduct that is presently being covered up. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Bob McCormack, Iveragh Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9.