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Ireland: EU urges fix to anticompetitive legal services market

By  |  June 3, 2014

The European Commission is urging Ireland to enact the Legal Services Regulation Bill by the end of the year, legislation that has been stalled since its publication in 2011.

According to reports, the legislation will allow professionals in the legal services industry to set up one-stop shops for customers, but opponents are concerned about joint businesses being set up by solicitors, accountants and others.

But in its report, the Commission found prices for legal services to be too high relative to the waning economic crisis, “in part due to insufficient competition.” The regulator found options for pre-trial services are significantly limited.

The bill has been in limbo for nearly three years and, according to reports, the Department of Justice is said to be planning amendments to the legislation.

Full content: Irish Times

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