Vol. 473 No. 4
572 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the expenditure of £10.3 million under Vote 31, subhead A9 in the 1997 Estimates for the public service; and if this is the annual cost for the long-term. [1676/97]
The provision of £10.3 million under subhead A9 provides for the remuneration of temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs).
The 1997 Estimate is the expected cost of engaging TVIs (i) for meat inspection and portal inspection duties on a fee per day basis and (ii) animal health testing on a fee per test basis.
The annual cost for the long-term is expected to be in line with the 1977 Estimate plus any increase in fees negotiated as a result of genreral pay agreements.
573 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the expenditure of £11 million under Vote 31, subhead J1 in the 1997 Estimates for the public service and the £6.15 million in 1996. [1677/97]
The costs of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Processing Industry are being met from the Vote of my Department. The total expenditure of date is £13.37 million of which £5.85 million was paid in 1996 in respect of legal costs awarded following hearings by the Taxing Master which can be seen in the following table. These interm payments were made subject to appeals being lodged and the strongest possible case is being made by the State to ensure that the fees paid are kept to the absolute minimum.
A total of 77 costs orders were made by Mr. Justice Hamilton granting costs. The procedure in relation to these orders is that those claiming costs, or cost accountants, acting on their behalf submit bills to a Taxing Master of the High Court. Of the 77 orders made, only 20 claims have been lodged to date.
|
Client/Solicitor |
Paid 1996 |
|
£ |
|
|
Michael D. White & Co. Solicitors — |
754,760.40 |
|
Representing Tomás Mac Giolla and Patrick Rabbitte |
|
|
A. & L. Goodbody — Representing L. Goodman/Goodman International |
3,993,772.87 |
|
Rory O'Donnell, Solicitor — Representing L. Goodman/Goodman International Export Credit |
1,076,586.92 |
|
Dermot Fulham Solicitor — Representing Baltinglass Meats Ltd. |
1,726.80 |
|
Total |
5,826,846.99 |
