Sir, - The Taxing Master, Mr James Flynn, was quoted in The Irish Times (July 31st) as saying that "the high cost involved in litigation is not as a result of the huge fees charged by lawyers; indeed their fees are no higher than other professional fees, but is rather as a result of how the system works".
Without making any comment on the levels of fees paid in the Beef Tribunal, the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland would have to take up the issue, on behalf of professionally qualified architects, with the Taxing Master, whose contention that daily retainers frees of £1,500 to £3,000 are comparable to fees paid to other professionals.
Professionally qualified architects, even those operating for example as arbitrators and at the highest level of professional skills in complex matters, can hardly realise even one third of the daily rates paid in the Beef Tribunal, would never receive a daily retainer and would be paid only on the basis of actual hours of work incurred. - Yours, etc.,
General Secretary,
RIAI,
8 Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.