Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
527. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a comprehensive reply and response to correspondence (details supplied) regarding taxing masters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23974/13]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, taxing masters are independent office holders attached to the High Court. The positions of the Taxing Master and their offices are governed by the Courts Officers Act 1926 and the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961. Their powers and duties are governed by the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 and the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995. There are currently two Taxing Masters who perform functions of a judicial nature in respect of legal costs with the aim of establishing a fair relationship between the services rendered and the cost of those services. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries and the Courts Service has informed me that the waiting time for taxation of a bill is currently 12 weeks. I am informed that a number of measures have been introduced in the Taxing Masters' Office to tackle backlogs including improved scheduling of cases and practitioners have been informed that all requisite documentation is to be lodged at the commencement of the taxation process. It has also been necessary to inform parties that taxation cannot be completed due to the requisite documentation not being lodged or where proofs are not in order. I am informed that the Senior Taxing Master has indicated to practitioners that he will take any application for urgent taxation and regularly does so. In addition, he has indicated that any complaints by practitioners regarding delay should be brought to his direct attention. The Deputy may also be aware that the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 provides for the establishment of a new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator which will deal with disputes about legal costs. The new Office, headed by a Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator, will modernise the way disputed legal costs are adjudicated with greater transparency. The Office will be empowered to prepare Legal Costs Guidelines. It will establish and maintain a publicly accessible Register of Determinations which will include the outcomes and reasons for its determinations about disputed legal costs. The Bill is scheduled for Committee Stage during July.
