Tony Gregory
Question:210 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the findings of the Taxing Master of the High Court on 29 January 1997 on the party-party costs in regard to equality payments. [6924/97]
Written Answers. - Equality Payments.
It is assumed that the findings referred to by the Deputy relate to the case of Byrne, Boytim lan & Delahunty v. the Minister for Social Welfare and the Attorney General, generally known as the Stokes Case, which was listed before the Taxing Master on 23, 24, 27, 28 and 29 January 1997 but was not finally completed until 3 February 1997.
My Department has been advised by the Chief State Solicitor's office that the Taxing Master made his findings on the basis of two bills of costs, the first involving 2,907 plaintiffs in 15 proceedings and the second involving 696 plaintiffs in eight proceedings.
The first bill of costs including Revenue Commissioners, stamp duty on the taxation was £2,435,431.21. The Taxing Master reduced this claim by £989,083.13 leaving a balance of £1.446 million made up of £1.128 million professional fees and the balance of £.318 million to cover VAT, postage and incidental costs.
The total amount claimed on the second bill of costs, including Revenue Commissioners stamp duty on the taxation was £666,716.65. The Taxing Master reduced this by £.210 million leaving a balance £456,051.30, made up of professional fees £.353 million and the balance of £.102 million to cover VAT, postage and incidental costs.
With the agreement of my Department and on the advice of the Office of the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitor's office are raising objections to the Taxing Master's findings in so far as they concern solicitor's and counsel's fees and the matter is currently under appeal to the Taxing Master.