McDowell vows to tackle high legal costs

THE Government has given approval for major reforms to tackle high legal costs and give people dealing with barristers and solicitors better value for money.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell last night revealed that the Cabinet had endorsed the recommendations of a report prepared by the Legal Costs Working Group just before Christmas and that immediate steps would be taken to implement its findings.

The group, chaired by a former high-ranking civil servant Paul Haran, recommended a wide range of measures including the abolition of the taxation of costs system (overseen by a High Court Taxing Master) to be replaced by a legal costs regulatory body.