Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 114:

In page 79, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:“(f) specify the cost to the client of the services specified at (a) to (e) inclusive”.

The letter of engagement provides for many worthy things, such as specifying the services to be provided, specifying the services referred to in paragraph (a), specifying which of the services are services other than legal services, specifying the services under various sections, and providing such additional information as may be prescribed. I propose that it also specify the costs. One of the major problems consumers have is that the bill gets out of control and they are not told in advance what it will cost. It would be a pro-consumer step to insert this. The person must know what this costs. They might decide there are other ways to resolve the matter or they might decide to drop it. Specifying the costs in advance must be part of the engagement. One of the complaints traditionally made about the legal profession is that it does not do that, and the clients are at a disadvantage thereafter in the transaction.