Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 1969

Vol. 242 No. 4

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Taxing Master's Office.

55.

asked the Minister for Justice, if, having regard to the growing backlog of untaxed bills awaiting attention in the Taxing Master's Office with resultant loss and inconvenience to the public in general and the legal profession in particular, he will state when it is proposed to fill the statutory post of Taxing Master now vacant; whether he has received representations from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland in the matter; and, if so, his attitude to same.

I do not accept that the situation is as serious as the Deputy represents. I am keeping this matter under continuing review and am bearing in mind the representations I have received from the Incorporated Law Society.

While the Minister does not accept that the situation is as serious as I represent, does the Minister consider that the situation is growing serious and that, if the serious situation which I have represented is not to occur, some early steps will have to be taken to prevent a greater backlog of untaxed bills arising?

It is abundantly clear to me that each year there is a buildup of business in that office in July and that during long periods of the rest of the year it is very slack. This may be due to the dilatoriness of solicitors in having their bills prepared and presented. At all events, the work load is obviously in the month of July, whereas the place is comparatively quiet for several months of the year. As I have told the Deputy, I am keeping it under constant review.

Is it not the position that there is always a waiting list in the Taxing Office and that if there is a build-up of work in July it is in anticipation of the long vacation and that it is not due to the reasons which the Minister has unfairly suggested?

The Deputy is in error. The fact is that there is a pile-up of bills when they start looking for money just before the long vacation and many of these bills could have been presented long before that.

Barr
Roinn