Lawyers will co-operate on changes

Political Editor John Downing finds Justice Minister Michael McDowell upbeat about progress being made against the compensation culture

MICHAEL McDowell insists that he is loath to engage in lawyer bashing, and not just because he is one himself by trade.

But three months after promising a major onslaught on Ireland's compensation culture, the justice minister is also keen to show that some progress has been achieved and that some big changes are just around the corner. He also says he believes that the bulk of solicitors will in fact collaborate with Government efforts to bring about change.