Ms Eileen Creedon:

It is as a result of making cuts to the actual fees we have been paying to counsel. As I said in my briefing document, the review and management of counsel fees is a key activity for the office. Reviews of fees are sent to a high level group in the office in order that all fee notes are reviewed before they are paid.

We have been driving at this hard since 2008 and, as the Deputy can see, it has borne results. We are conscious, however, that we may at some point reach the floor. Obviously, because of the type of work that goes through the office, it is very important that the Attorney General be able to recruit counsel with the skills and at the level required for some of the very high end public law cases. We are keeping a tight watch in that regard. Certainly we have received feedback from counsel indicating that they believe it has become very tight, but it has become very tight for everybody everywhere. We have achieved these results. We are not saying we have hit the bottom; we may not have. However, we are in a changed environment, with two new taxing masters. We are watching and keeping with it, but it is due to the reducing amount of money we are paying.