Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Minister for Finance, having sanctioned the higher fees, stated the process to be a gravy train that should be stopped. No action was ever taken. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform brought in legislation in 2004 to curtail the fees but turned a blind eye with regard to implementing the new fees, which have never been put in place. If the Tánaiste is so concerned about fees, why has action never been taken by the Government to control them?

If it is true, as alleged on radio this morning, that there are 12,000 orders for discovery at €13,000 a go, with €400 million being the alleged cost, who sanctioned it? Who is in control of the purse strings and who sanctioned the transfer of €400 million of taxpayers' money to the banks for orders of discovery? It seems the Government speaks with forked tongue on this issue.

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