Alan Shatter defends new legal services Bill

Alan Shatter has defended the new Bill he has drafted to reform legal services.

Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan, has said the Bill was meant to be 'a lion' when Mr Shatter wrote it, but a series of changes have turned it into a ' little lamb'.

If passed the new law would set up a regulatory authority and an independent complaints system for the clients of barristers and solicitors.

However 300 amendments have been made to the Bill - former Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said most of what he wanted has not been removed: “85% of what I hope to achieve, will be achieved.

“The small portion of reforms that are in difficulties, but the difficulties are not necessarily terminal.

“I was very anxious to ensure that there was greater competition in legal services and some of the proposals included in the original Bill, will come to pass.”