Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I regret the Government decision not to reduce the fees for lawyers involved in the tribunals, which will continue to be paid at a rate of €2,250 per day for senior counsel and €1,500 for junior counsel. While I fully understand that the issue would probably have become a major political football in the lead-up to an election, I call for a debate to be scheduled to discuss it. The scandalous rates paid to lawyers must be tackled by an incoming Government. Senators have raised the issue of rape but allowing these fees to continue is professional rape of taxpayers. They should be halted as a matter of urgency.

The more serious issue arising from the letters sent by school authorities to people who have been abused is the low rates of reporting and prosecution of those who have abused children. Obviously, people other than teachers are involved and many of them continue in their functions. The House should hone in on this issue. While it may be difficult to legislate in a manner that ensures innocent people are not unjustifiably prosecuted, none the less it is a miscarriage of justice that so few cases — the figure is in single figures in percentage terms — are successfully prosecuted.