Written answers

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Legal Costs

10:00 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his progress on providing for lawyers clients in non-criminal matters with a right of application to the court where they contend that their legal bill is excessive and includes wasted costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40056/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Legal Costs Bill that is a commitment in the Government Legislation Programme. The details of my proposals for the Bill continue to be developed in my Department with a view to being completed as soon as possible.

The Bill aims to reform the manner in which disputed legal costs are assessed with the allied objective of making the market for civil legal services more predictable, consistent and transparent to consumers; to provide for significant improvements in the quality and quantity of the information that a solicitor is required to provide to clients and the manner in which it is to be supplied; to ensure the litigant has a central role to play in controlling his or her legal costs and to ensure that the timely provision of information to clients is central to this empowerment.

Under the law as it stands solicitors must furnish their client with a detailed Bill of Costs and there is a system under which the costs may be taxed. The Law Society has power to investigate allegations of excessive charges by solicitors and there are, of course, sanctions and disciplinary procedures in place.

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