asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the action he proposes to take to ensure that the Prices and Charges (Notification of Increases) Order, 1975, is effectively enforced in the case of legal fees charged by individual barristers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barristers' Fees.
8.
I indicated in my written reply to the Deputy's previous question relating to barristers' fees that my Department had drawn the attention of the Bar Council to the legal requirements in relation to increases in charges for rendering professional services and that I expected barristers who proposed to increase their fees to give me advance notice as required by the order. To date, I have received no notification of a proposed increase in barristers' fees nor have I received evidence of any increase in fees by individual barristers.
If it appears that a barrister has implemented an increase in fees, my Department should be notified immediately and the matter will be investigated. I do not consider that it would be either practicable or desirable to detail the action that would be taken in any particular case to enforce the order.
The National Prices Commission recently decided to investigate barristers' remuneration and are at present considering how best to carry out such an investigation.
Is the Minister aware of public statements by a certain senior member of the Bar who is also a member of the fees committee of that Council, notwithstanding the letter from the Minister to the council, that there was nothing to stop individual barristers from putting up their fees by as much as they wished and he urged them to so do? Has the Minister, any views on the action to be taken against one member at least?
I have seen many reports but the position is as I indicated in my rather detailed reply to the Deputy's question.
Did the Minister indicate that an investigation into barristers' practices in remuneration, as distinct from solicitors', is being undertaken by the Department?
Yes, the position is that for some time the National Prices Commission have had in hands an investigation of solicitors' fees and the final wrapping up of that work is expected within the next few months. These investigations are fairly thorough and will take a little time. In addition, there is now a decision to investigate barristers' remuneration and they are currently working on the mechanism of carrying out that investigation effectively, although a detailed investigation has not started yet.
Has the Minister any indication of the date it was decided to investigate barristers' fees.
I do not know the date but it was recently, within the last month.