Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the salary paid to the Taxing Masters of the High Court for the year ending 31 December 2010; and the public expenditure incurred in the running and maintaining of the Office of the Taxing Master of the High Court and all associated staffing expenses for the year ending 31 December 2010. [1590/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he plans to appoint a new Taxing Master of the High Court to replace one of the Taxing Masters who retired in December 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1591/11]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 610 together.

The salary paid to each Taxing Master of the High Court during 2010 was €138,655 p.a. The costs associated with the operation of the Office of the Taxing Master are paid out of the Courts Service Vote.

As the Deputy is aware, one of the two Taxing Masters retired on 23rd December 2010. As part of the overall strategy to tackle legal costs, I propose to avail of the opportunity this presents to widen the qualifications for the post.

The current qualifications for the appointment of Taxing Master are set out in Schedule 8 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 and require that the appointee be a solicitor of not less than 10 years standing. It is my intention to widen the qualification requirements to encompass candidates with relevant costs and management experience. The Public Appointments Service will be in a position to match the skills required of the Taxing Master. The necessary legal provisions are being drafted for inclusion in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 which is currently before the House.