As a former Minister for Finance, does the Taoiseach share my experience that there is no negotiation regarding fees and that, in effect, the Attorney General comes into the office of the Minister for Finance and says, "This is the amount of money we have to pay"? Deputy Higgins alluded to the fact that, in effect, this is squared down in the Law Library.
In light of the fortunes which have been made recently, does the Taoiseach agree that perhaps we should start to apply the same tendering procedures to legal fees which apply in all Departments regarding consultants whereby people would be invited to submit bids which could be subjected to some kind of external scrutiny? In light of the extraordinary costs and the fact that we are carrying €1.27 million on account for two people who may or may not lodge claims, does the Taoiseach further agree that it is time the Competition Authority was asked to look at the manner in which fees are set? The current situation comprises a triangle between a judge who, in most cases, is a former senior counsel, an Attorney General, who usually has to be a senior counsel, and current senior counsels, three of whom square off and decide the rate of pay on a per diem basis. Does the Taoiseach agree that there is no tendering process for this extraordinary level of remuneration in contrast to the provision of professional services under tender in every other sphere of Government activity?