Sir, – Jerry Carroll, director of the Bar Council, writes of the importance that the debate on legal reforms is informed by facts and data that are inclusive and accurate (October 8th). I very much agree with this sentiment and in that spirit I would like to clarify a number of issues.
The data to which Mr Carroll refers is taken from the Services Producer Price Index published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). It is not, as Mr Carroll suggested, taken from a Forfás survey and the survey was not carried out on behalf of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
The data on which the index is based refers to charges to business customers by solicitors and does not include charges to Government or private consumers or barristers’ charges. As the statutory national statistics office, the CSO strives for the best statistical standards and methodology, and adheres to the highest professional standards of impartiality, integrity and independence.
In using the CSO data on legal service costs, Forfás and the NCC always highlight the experimental nature of the Services Producer Price Index, the limitations of the data and the relatively small number of solicitor firms who responded. We do not, however, rely on a single source when addressing the issue of legal costs.
The World Bank’s Doing Business 2012 report, for example (referenced in the NCC benchmarking report Ireland’s Competitiveness Scorecard) finds that legal costs in Ireland are amongst the highest of the countries considered.
Mr Carroll’s commitment on behalf of the Bar Council to fully engage with the Government and others, to ensure that the process of legal reform ensures the fairest and most effective delivery legal services to the public, is, of course, very welcome.
In that regard an increased response rate from legal firms and professionals, facilitated perhaps by their professional bodies, would be a most welcome and constructive contribution. – Yours, etc,