It reached settlements in costs of €47.5 million, adjudicated in €9m, while €33m remained adjourned.

Established in October 2019, the office, in its first three months of operation:

• established a register of its determinations online to allow an understanding of the approach of developing principles in relation to adjudicating legal costs;
• processed over 600 cases inherited at its formation and adjudicated costs in the region of €9 million;
• settled 62 per cent of cases costs – following processing by the office, 10 per cent were adjudicated upon or are awaiting determination, and 28 per cent remained adjourned;
• reached settlements in cost of €47.5 million; the office adjudicated in €9 million of costs, and €33 million remained adjourned;
• reduced costs: costs determined by the adjudicator were reduced by 34 per cent from €9 million to €5.9 million.

Angela Denning, Chief Executive Officer of the Courts Service, said: “Great credit is due to Mr Paul Behan, Chief Legal Cost Adjudicator, and his staff, in setting up the new office and preparing these two important documents.

“Paul and his team have worked very hard to establish improved processes to replace the old taxing masters systems and they are now making a very significant contribution to providing clarity to litigants on the subject of legal fees.

“On behalf of the Courts Service, I would like to congratulate Paul and his team for their hard work and look forward to supporting them in their important roles in the future”.