COLONIAL SOLICITORS ACT (Hansard, 13 July 1925)

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)

I am advised that under the provisions of Section 3 of the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922 (Session 2), no Order in Council can be made; applying the Colonial Solicitors Act. 1900, to the Irish Free State unless and until the Parliament of the Irish Free State passes legislation to the effect that the Act may be applied to the Irish Free State as it may be applied to self-governing Dominions. No such legislation having been passed by the Government of the Irish Free State, His Majesty's Government are not in a position to take any action in the matter. I may add that on the passing by the Parliament of the Irish Free State of the Solicitors (Ireland) Act 1898 Amendment Act, 1923, which provides 837 that English solicitors and Scotch law-agents may practice in the Irish Free State, the Government of the Irish Free State invited His Majesty's Government to consider the issue of an Order in Council applying the Colonial Solicitors Act, 1900, to the Irish Free State. His Majesty's Government in reply informed the Free State Government that they are ready to take into consideration in consultution with the appropriate authorities in this country the question of the issue of an Order applying the Act to the Irish Free State with such exceptions, conditions and modifications as might appear to be necessary so soon as the necessary additional legislation had been passed by the Free State Parliament, but they have received no further communication from the Fret State Government on the matter.