Charlie McCreevy Lawyer rates 'incorrect'
The Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, has told the Dáil that paying lawyers daily rates for their work on tribunals is 'totally incorrect' and something must be done about it.
Mr McCreevy said that under the 'per diem' system, a senior counsel earned more in three-and-a-half days than an old age pensioner got in an entire year.
The issue was raised in the House by Fine Gael Finance Spokesperson, Richard Bruton, who pointed out that Mr McCreevy had told the Fianna Fáil Ard Fhéis he was going to limit the cost of tribunals, but that all he had done in office was increase fees.
Mr Bruton asked how the minister could square his increases in the daily rates with his alleged concern to contain costs.
Mr McCreevy said he looked forward to support from Fine Gael when he brought proposals to the House on the issue.
The minister added that the current cost of tribunals - €101m - referred only to the State's legal costs, and that third party costs would be a multiple of this.
