THE BAR Council has reacted cautiously to an accusation by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter that it was “briefing against the State” in a meeting with representatives from the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The council stressed it was open to reform and willing to engage in that process, and was awaiting publication of the Legal Services Bill.
The meeting criticised by Alan Shatter took place on Monday, October 3rd, the day before Mr Shatter issued a lengthy press release outlining the main elements in the forthcoming Bill. A note on the meeting was circulated to all members of the bar.
In a brief statement yesterday, the Bar Council said it was clarifying the purpose of the meeting.
“The Bar Council recently met officials from the EU Commission and the IMF in the context of the Legal Services Regulation Bill, following a formal request to meet them and to ascertain from them what their requirements are in relation to the proposed legislation (which has not yet been published),” the statement said.
“The Bar Council wished to do so as it has been suggested that the measures in the Bill have been required by the EU-IMF. A note was prepared following the meeting which was circulated to all members of the Bar.
“The Bar Council met with Minister Shatter last July. We requested a further meeting with the Minister in September but received no response to that request. At these meetings the Bar Council has emphasised that the Bar is open to reform and willing to engage in that process but have some concerns about certain aspects of the legislation (as it has been described in the Minister’s press release of 4 October 2011).
“However, we await publication of the draft Bill later this week.”
Meanwhile, the office of the EU commissioner on justice, Viviane Reding, confirmed yesterday she had met representatives of the European lawyers’ association, the CCBE, last week where the forthcoming Bill was discussed. However, her spokesman said this was a private meeting and she had no comment on it.
Jonathan Goldsmith, secretary general of the CCBE, which represents all national lawyers’ associations in Europe, told The Irish Times they had asked Ms Reding to raise the issue of the Bill with her fellow commissioner, Olli Rehn, if she shared their concerns.
“If our understanding of the Bill is correct, the regulation of the profession will be through a Government-appointed body.
That is going further than any other member state,” he said.