Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have done an immense amount of work on this and the structuring of it with the Attorney General and his office. We had input into this in the preparation of the legislation through our team of senior counsel who have been very involved in these cases. What I would say to those who have raised what they see is as legitimate concerns - we take that on board as they are commenting, as they are entitled to, in the absence of seeing the scheme - is that they will be important to the public consultation on the scheme and I would expect them to make an input into it. The Bill sets the architecture to bring forward the costs scheme. No one has spoken to me about the architecture we are setting in the Bill. The next piece is the costs scheme and we will listen carefully to those who are engaged in the process and know it well, as we have done heretofore.

The public consultation will be very important. I will assess the feedback we get, as I am certain the Minister Deputy Ryan will, particularly feedback from the practitioners because they are the people at the coalface. We will listen respectfully and take on board their views.