Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It will certainly be a first in Ireland in this profession. We know that the authority is supposed to be self-funding, to be funded from the operation of a levy on legal practitioners. I asked the Minister a question about this last month. My concern is that, in spite of the fact that the authority is supposed to be self-funding, to date it has cost €3 million - €1 million in each year from 2016 to 2018, with no sign in the meantime of anything being levied on the Law Society of Ireland or the Bar of Ireland. The answer I have received is that "we are in the process of setting up the levy." We are dealing with two organisations that are sitting on a pot load of money. Why have they not been asked to fund the authority? Why should the taxpayer have to pay it? The sum of €3 million is not insignificant. I also point out that the money that has been paid upfront by the State is supposed to be recoupable by it. When does the authority envisage the State getting its money back and the legal profession starting to cough up?