Sir, - The Attorney General, Michael McDowell, suggested in a speech at the 21st anniversary conference of the Legal Aid Board in Tralee last Saturday, as reported in your newspaper, that the legal system is not working and is "simply unjust". Many lawyers within the legal profession have sympathy with this views expressed with the Attorney General and would welcome the establishment of the forum suggested by him.
Regretfully, there are too few judges to deal with the very heavy and increasing work load placed upon them. It is the Government, not the legal profession, that has the power to alleviate the burden on the judiciary. The Attorney General is well placed to advise the Government on the need for additional judges. The recently published Court and Court Officers Bill is a vehicle available to the Government to do what is necessary to increase the number of judges.
Perhaps the Attorney General might also consider, as a small gesture towards the reform that he suggests is needed, changing the regulations within his own office which prevent the employment of one branch of the legal profession (solicitors) from acting as advisers to him and the Government.
One small step towards reform and equality within the legal profession itself might further enhance the considerable reputation of Michael McDowell! - Yours, etc.,
Patrick O'Connor, Cuillonaghton, Callow, Foxford, Co Mayo.