Public Accounts Committee to question Govt officials about lawyers' fees

Lawyers' fees will be under the spotlight later when Government officials responsible for State legal services appear before the Public Accounts Committee.

Representatives from the office of the Attorney General, the DPP and the State Solicitor will be asked if the Irish taxpayer is getting value for money.

The total paid out to lawyers last year was €75m, well above the international average.

Counsel fees account for a major portion of the cost, with €13m spent by the DPP alone in 2014.

The PAC is expected to call for greater transparency and tighter restrictions when it comes to Government spending on legal fees.