Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 4

Written Answers. - High Court Actions.

Alan Shatter

Question:

29 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of High Court cases in which the Minister for Industry and Commerce of the day was named as a defendant in court proceedings in each of the last ten years; the issues involved in such proceedings; the number of such cases successfully defended by him; the number of such cases in which the plaintiff was successful; the amount of legal costs incurred by the State in each year in respect of such cases; and the amount of legal costs paid out by the State in each year pursuant to orders for costs made against him.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. O'Malley):

Because of the very wide ambit of responsibilities of my Department I consider that extracting the very detailed information requested would serve no useful public purpose, would mean deferring more pressing and urgent work in my Department and in the offices of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor and cannot be justified.