Statement regarding comments made by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Newstalk Breakfast, 20 May 2021
Director General of the Law Society, Mary Keane, said, “The Law Society of Ireland is deeply disappointed by the recent comments regarding the legal profession made by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, which we view as offensive and disrespectful to over 12,000 solicitors who work tirelessly to protect and serve their clients every day.”
“This blatant attempt to insult the integrity of an entire profession that exists to provide access to justice for all citizens is unacceptable, extremely damaging and, to use Mr Donnelly’s words, ‘distasteful’.”
“The comments made on national radio can only be seen as an effort to deflect the narrative away from the challenges the Minister is currently facing. We urge Mr Donnelly to issue an apology to all solicitors in Ireland for this inaccurate depiction of the profession, which is in fact grounded in values of integrity, respect and trust,” Ms Keane concluded.
