Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

What has the Government concluded as regards the planning tribunal, for example, in terms of how long more it should run? Has this been discussed and has a decision been made by Government in this regard? How is it proposed to curb the legal costs? The Taoiseach has not given the House notice of any specific measure to place a limit on the legal costs which are bearing down on the taxpayer.

I remind him this is a much wider issue, involving justice for ordinary working people, and the poor, who simply cannot afford going to court and risk the enormous fees that may fall on their heads should they be unsuccessful. It is an extremely serious issue, not just for the taxpayer, but as regards working people generally. Taxpayers have inadvertently made several millionaires out of lawyers in the tribunals in recent years, but they themselves cannot afford to darken the doorway of the Four Courts should they need to go there because they cannot risk the costs. What concrete measures is the Taoiseach proposing today to curb this ruinous level of costs in tribunals and for people generally?

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