Refer fees charged by lawyers for tribunals - Norris

Consideration should be given to referring the fees charged by lawyers at tribunals to the Dail Public Accounts Committee, Mr…

Consideration should be given to referring the fees charged by lawyers at tribunals to the Dail Public Accounts Committee, Mr David Norris (Ind) advocated.

Recalling that the House had debated the scandals in the banking industry, he asked if arrangements could be made to hold a wide-ranging discussion on the way in which the legal profession milked the public.

The leader of the Seanad might consider whether it would be possible to refer the issue of tribunal fees to the public accounts committee, "who have done a very good job investigating this kind of thing".

Explaining why he thought legal fees needed to be examined by the House, Mr Norris claimed that lawyers frequently, with the co-operation of mortgage institutions, charged unfortunate customers for unnecessary legal "searches" when people sought to re-mortgage their property.

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"We should have a debate on the legal profession and on the way it operates in this country, frequently against the interest of their clients, although there are some very honourable and decent exceptions," Mr Norris added.

The Leas Cathaoirleach and barrister, Mr Liam Cosgrave, who was in the chair, provoked a humorous response when he advised Mr Norris: "Senator, it might pay you to shop around".