Price control of professional fees
The Minister said professional fees are covered by the Prices Acts and proposed increases require two months’ notice. Asked whether controls work for consultants and other professionals, he cited the small number of complaints as evidence that they do.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he intends instituting any control on increases in professional fees.
Comment on this
The position is that professional fees fall within the scope of the Prices Acts. Under the Prices and Charges (Notification of Increases) Order, 1979, any person proposing to increase the charge for a service rendered by him is required to give two months advance notice of the proposed increase to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
Comment on this
The Minister will probably have seen a recent complaint by the VHI of the very exorbitant charges of consultants in certain cases, not in all cases. Does the Minister believe that his prices control mechanism works with people like consultants, barristers, dentists and occasionally doctors as well? Does he think it really works and is effective because it affects a very important part of all our lives?