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Number 8 of 2009
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LEGAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN ACT 2009
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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PART 1
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Preliminary and General
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Section
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1. Short title and commencement.
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2. Interpretation.
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3. Expenses.
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PART 2
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Establishment, Role and Accountability of Office of Legal Services Ombudsman
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4. Establishment of office of Legal Services Ombudsman.
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5. Appointment of Legal Services Ombudsman.
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6. Period of office, resignation and removal from office.
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7. Salary and superannuation.
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8. Restriction on engaging in other employment.
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9. Functions and powers.
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10. Independence of Legal Services Ombudsman.
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11. Staff.
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12. Advances by Minister to Legal Services Ombudsman.
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13. Accounts and audit.
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14. Various reports by Legal Services Ombudsman.
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15. Annual report on admission policies of legal professions.
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16. Appearance before Committee of Dáil Éireann established to examine, etc., appropriation accounts, etc.
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17. Appearance before other committees of Houses of Oireachtas.
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18. Privilege in respect of certain matters.
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PART 3
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Imposition of Levy on Professional Bodies to Cover Approved Expenses of Legal Services Ombudsman
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19. Levy to be paid by Bar Council and Law Society.
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20. Regulations relating to levy.
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PART 4
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Complaints and Reviews
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21. Making of complaints.
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22. Investigations of complaints.
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23. Procedures for dealing with complaints to Legal Services Ombudsman.
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24. Opportunity to make submissions.
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25. Investigations to be conducted in private.
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26. Power to require provision of information.
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27. Obstruction of Legal Services Ombudsman.
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28. Power to issue directions or make recommendations following investigation.
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29. Duty to notify complainant and others of results, directions and recommendations.
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30. Enforcement of directions of Legal Services Ombudsman.
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31. Legal Services Ombudsman may refer question of law to High Court.
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32. Review of procedures of Bar Council and Law Society for dealing with complaints.
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33. Duties of Bar Council and Law Society to keep and produce records.
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34. Legal proceedings against Legal Services Ombudsman.
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35. Confidentiality of information.
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PART 5
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Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions
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36. Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997.
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37. Repeal of section 15 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994.
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38. Revocation of Solicitors (Adjudicator) Regulations 1997 and Solicitors (Adjudicator) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 and transitional provisions in relation thereto.
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Acts Referred to
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Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993
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1993, No. 8
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Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008
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2008, No. 14
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European Parliament Elections Act 1997
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1997, No. 2
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Freedom of Information Act 1997
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1997, No. 13
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Local Government Act 2001
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2001, No. 37
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Pensions Act 1990
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1990, No. 25
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Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851
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14 & 15 Vic., c. 93
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Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003
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2003, No. 4
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Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008
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Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1960
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1960, No. 37
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Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994
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1994, No. 27
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Solicitors (Amendment) Act 2002
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2002, No. 19
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Number 8 of2009
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LEGAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN ACT 2009
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AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND FUNCTIONS OF A LEGAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
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[10th March, 2009]
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
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