Tánaiste warns that fees must be reduced

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan has warned doctors, lawyers and architects they will have to lower the fees if the country is to restore its competitiveness.

Focusing on the sheltered fees sector – including solicitors, GPs and accountants – Ms Coughlan said the country had priced itself out of the market and the Government had to correct this. She said the amount professionals charged the State was too high.

“Certain professions have yet to play their part and have yet to tell us how they will reduce their fees and charges.”

At the MacGill Summer School in her native Donegal Ms Coughlan repeated a number of the Government’s positions on decreasing the cost of business. And she revealed job creation priorities in her department would hold a special status when the Government decides which of Bord Snip Nua’s recommendations would be acted on.

Ms Coughlan said Forfas has been charged with going through the report to see what effect each of its recommendations would have on job possibilities.

The Tánaiste also indicated a willingness to accept Bord Snip Nua’s criticism of the Government’s research and innovation strategy.

The report said the pursuit for PhDs and the philosophy-driven funding decisions was flawed and did not benefit business sector.

“Strategically that funding mechanism for research development and innovation should be based on enterprise and job opportunities.”

Ms Coughlan refused to be drawn on a reduction of the minimum wage in order to ensure future decisions by her were not compromised. However, she said it was important to ensure there was a minimum wage which was not so low that is was a disincentive for welfare recipients to apply for jobs.