Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Consultancy Contracts.

Bernard Allen

Question:

187 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance the amount paid since July 1997 to date in 2002 in fees, salary, allowances including delegates' allowances, expenses and other payments to any person including a body corporate or an un-incorporated body of persons in or under the aegis of his Department who is or was a consultant or was a person performing functions normally performed or capable of being performed by permanent civil servants or special advisers, but who was neither a permanent civil servant nor a special adviser with the meaning of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995; the name of the person in each case; the amount paid to each person; the breakdown as between salary, allowances, expenses or other payments; the date on which each person was appointed; if, in the case of persons no longer holding such position, the date on which the appointment ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17280/02]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

The following tables set out the information requested by the Deputy in relation to consultancy services undertaken for my Department or bodies under its aegis in the years 1997 to 2002 to date. They also provide the amounts expended, inclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated, together with a brief description of each consultancy. Some projects covered more than one year and some of these are still ongoing. A breakdown of the cost of these projects on an annual basis is not available and these are shown separately from the annual tables.

The NDP/CSF evaluation, information and IT units are not part of the Department of Finance proper and function on behalf of the European Commission as well as the Department and are financed jointly by both organisations. The information relating to these units is also shown separately.

I have included all relevant consultancy payments for the Department, although in some cases certain functions may not have been capable of having been performed by permanent civil servants or advisers due to their specialist nature.

As agreed with the Deputy, the tables do not include civil servants who are employed on a contract basis, for example administrative officers or executive officers, who are initially recruited on a one year contract basis in an unestablished capacity or temporary staff employed as "term time" replacements. In addition, other contract staff are engaged by the Department who perform functions outside the scope of the Deputy's question.

1997

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
ESRI	23,998 (£18,900)	Comparison of Public Service and Private Sector Pension arrangements.
Irish Pensions Trust Limited	€128,751 & VAT (£101,400 & VAT)	Actuarial Review of Public Service Pension Schemes and Actuarial Review of Impact of Changes to Pension Scheme Terms.
Advanced Management & Organisation Development Limited	€9,168 (£7,220)	Provision of mentoring services to CMOD on Organisation Development Models and Strategies to meet client needs.
IPA	€114,276 (£90,000)	Administrative Research (CPMR).
Hayes MSL	€212,204(£167,124)	Proposed Performance Management System for the Civil Service.
University of Glasgow	€28,296 (£22,285)	Records Management Training.
KPMG	€49,932 (£39,324)	Abolition of Duty Free study.

1998

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Farrell Grant Sparks/Goodbody Economic Consultants in association with Chesterton Consulting	€25,395 & VAT (£20,000 & VAT)	Study on Public Private Partnerships.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Mercer Limited	€34,918 & VAT (£27,500 & VAT)	Review of Alternative Structure – Project to design a hybrid pension scheme.
Irish Pensions Trust Limited	€27,299 & VAT (21,500 & VAT)	Actuarial Review of Public Service Pension Schemes and Actuarial Review of Impact of Changes to Pension Scheme Terms – follow up work on initial project.
KPMG	€36,888 (£29,052)	Procurement of Air Transport and related services for Government Departments.
IPA, Trinity College & Goodbody Economic Consultants	€57,138 & VAT (£45,000 & VAT)	To investigate the gender imbalance in the Civil Service at HEO level and above.
Lansdowne Market Research Limited	€25,343 (£19,959)	Research on public awareness of the Euro.
Advanced Management & Organisation Development Limited	€18,335 (£14,440)	Provision of mentoring services to CMOD on Organisation Development Models and Strategies to meet client needs.
Watson Wyatt	€2,793 & VAT (£2,200 & VAT)	Report in relation to Irish Aviation Authority Pensions.
Hay Management Consultants	€88,177 (£69,445)	Evaluation and Market Pricing of Chief Executive Positions in the Commercial State Organisations.
Compaq Computer Ireland Ltd.	€284,827 (£224,319)	Payable Order Reconciliation System for the bank clearing process for the Paymaster General's Office.
Carr Communications	€83,529 (£65,784)	Provision of public relations services in relation to the Euro changeover.
Brindley Advertising	€318,030 (£250,469)	Design and delivery of Euro advertising campaign.
Mr. Billy Power	€5,727 (£4,510)	Consultancy in relation to public service pensions.

1999

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Ernst & Young	€10,158 & VAT (£8,000 & VAT)	Assisting in recruiting a PPP Project Specialist.
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	€58,734 (£46,257)	Advice regarding Liability of the Minister for Finance in respect of Pension Entitlements of former Civil Servants.
Howard Johnson/HCM Consultants	€133,688 (£105,288)	Payment for actuarial services in respect of the discharge of certain Exchequer pension liabilities – Telecom Éireann, An Post, IAA, Coillte.
Mercer Limited	€25,395 & VAT (£20,000 & VAT)	Additional Voluntary Contributions/ Purchase of Notional Service.
Irish Pensions Trust Limited (Mercer Limited)	€73,645 & VAT (£58,000 & VAT)	Further actuarial review of Impact of Changes to Pension scheme terms.
Lansdowne Market Research Limited	€14,043 (£11,060)	Research on public awareness of the Euro.
Fitzpatrick Associates (in conjunction with Ernst & Young)	€72,261 (£56,910)	Review of Public Sector Pay Determination.
Carr Communications	€44,724 (£35,223)	Provision of public relations services in relation to the Euro changeover.
Deloitte & Touche	€4,044 (£3,185)	Advice on blueprint for cash Changeover Plan and assistance in development of changeover oversight plan.
Compaq Computer Ireland Ltd.	€532,450 (£419,339)	Payable Order Reconciliation System for the bank clearing process for the Paymaster General's Office (project continued from 1998).
Deloitte & Touche/Expense Reduction Analysts Limited	€111,000 (£87,420)	Annual audits on the operation of travel policy by Government Departments and Offices and Club Travel Limited. (Expense Reduction Analysts Limited were hired through Deloitte & Touche.)
Brindley Advertising	€581,869 (£458,259)	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.
Data Options	€83,052 (£65,409)	Outsourcing of data entry work for Paymaster General's office during very busy periods.
Mr. Billy Power	€3,212 (£2,530)	Consultancy in relation to public service pensions.

2000

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
DKM Economic Consultants	€30,672 (£24,156)	Advice to the Minister in relation to the charging of a fee for UMTS licences.
Mercer Limited	€19,046 & VAT (£15,000 & VAT)	Actuarial Review of SW pensions in connection with the National Pensions Reserve Fund.
Mercer Limited	€2,539 & VAT (£2,000 & VAT)	Additional actuarial work on draw down arrangements for National Pension Reserve Fund.
Howard Johnson/HCM Consultants	€50,458 (£39,739)	Payment for actuarial services in respect of the discharge of certain Exchequer pension liabilities – Telecom Éireann, An Post, IAA, Coillte.
David Duffy Prospectus Strategy Solution	€21,888 (£17,238)	Advice on Corporate Governance aspects of Review of Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Deloitte & Touche/Expense Reduction Analysts Limited	€97,154 (£76,515)	Annual audits on the operation of travel policy by Government Departments and Offices and Club Travel Limited. (Expense Reduction Analysts Limited were hired through Deloitte & Touche.)
Carr Communications	€54,703 (£43,082)	Provision of public relations services in relation to the Euro changeover.
Deloitte & Touche	€184,632 (£145,410)	Consultancy in connection with the competitive process to award a new licence to operate the National Lottery.
Irish Marketing Surveys	€41,443 (£32,639)	Research on public awareness about the Euro.
Information Consultants Pty Limited	€1,778 (£1,400)	Production of Train the Trainer Manual for FOI.
Hay Management Consultants	€2,868 (£2,259)	Evaluation of Chief Executive positions in Commercial State Organisations.
Mr. Lauri McDonnell	€3,809 (£3,000)	Process Auditor to proposed merger and flotation of ACC and TSB Bank.
Arthur Cox Solicitors	€138,965 (£109,444)	Provision of legal advice with regard to the proposed merger and flotation of ACC and TSB Bank.
IBI Corporate Finance, Davy Stockbrokers and Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette	€478,573 (£376,907)	Provision of corporate and financial advice with regard to the proposed merger and flotation of ACC and TSB Bank.
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	€47,081 (£37,079)	Provision of legal advice in relation to An Post ESOP implementation.
Ms N. Hynes	€4,622 (£3,640)	Provision of Accountancy advice in relation to the Management Information Framework Project.
Mr. David Kingston	€1,508, (£1,188)	Paper and Presentation re the potential structure of the National Pensions reserve Fund.
Brindley Advertising	€226,403 (£178,307)	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.
Adept Creative Services Ltd.	€445,746 (£351,054)	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.
All Ireland Media Ltd.	€409,467 (£322,482)	Purchase of media space for Euro changeover advertising.
Clear System Solutions	€6,760 (£5,324)	Development of software for Euro computer tool for retailers.
Data Options	€44,441 (£35,000)	Outsourcing of data entry work for Paymaster General's office during very busy periods.
Mr. Billy Power	€1,371 (£1,080)	Consultancy in relation to public service pensions.

2001

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Howard Johnson/HCM Consultants	€16,881 (£13,295)	Payment for actuarial services in respect of the discharge of certain Exchequer pension liabilities – Telecom Éireann, An Post, IAA, Coillte.
Advanced Organisation and Management Development	€5,028 (£3,960)	Membership of the working group on the accountability of Secretaries General and Accounting Officers.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Robson Rhodes	€9,535 (£7,509)	Work undertaken for the Working Group on the Accountability of Secretaries General and Accounting Officers.
MMP Business Programme	€11,740 (£9,246)	Review of the Management Information Framework Project Structure.
Arthur Andersen	€53,329 (£42,000)	Provision of corporate and financial advice with regard to the sale of TSB Bank to Irish Life & Permanent.
Mr. E. Molloy	€19,312 (£15,210)	Consultancy to the Working Group on the accountability of Accounting Officers and Secretaries General.
Deloitte & Touche	€145,323 (£114,451)	Review of the Department's management information requirements.
Deloitte & Touche	€54,450 (£42,883)	Consultancy in connection with the competitive process to award a new licence to operate the National Lottery.
PriceWaterhouse Cooper	€114,276 & VAT (£90,000 & VAT)	Review of the existing PPP structures.
Capita Consulting	€68,972 (£54,320)	Consultancy to review the Appropriation Accounts and a pilot project on accruals.
Deloitte & Touche/Expense Reduction Analysts Limited	€97,000 (£76,394)	Annual audits on the operation of travel policy by Government Departments and Offices and Club Travel Limited. (Expense Reduction Analysts Limited were hired through Deloitte & Touche.)
Deloitte & Touche	€12,697 (£10,000)	Provision of advice to Department in relation to the negotiation of the National Lottery Licence with An Post National Lottery Company.
Carr Communications	€117,234 (£92,329)	Provision of public relations services in relation to the Euro changeover.
Irish Marketing Surveys	€40,615 (£31,987)	Research on public awareness about the Euro.
Fitzpatrick Associates	€4,609 (£3,630)	Presentation on Private Sector Pay Structures and Benchmarking.
Deloitte & Touche	€145,683 (£114,735)	Assistance in development of the Euro changeover oversight plan.
Cap Gemini Ernst & Young	€25,925 (£20,418)	Quality assurance review of the draft IT Strategy.
Hay Management Consultants	€5,688 (£4,480)	Evaluation of Chief Executive position in a Commercial State organisation (Shannon/Foynes).
Hay Management Consultants	€4,571 (£3,600)	Evaluation of Chief Executive position in Commercial state organisations (Rail Procurement Agency/Eirgrid/Ordnance Survey Ireland.
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	€11,512 (£9,066)	Provision of legal advice in relation to An Post ESOP implementation.
Joe Carr of Chapman Flood Mazars Ltd	€28,000 (£22,052)	Provision of Financial Management advice to the Steering group on Systems review of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
Mr. Brian Lenihan	€1,955 (£1,540)	Study on the provision of a Nursing degree in the third level Education Sector.
Sean Bourke Solicitors	€83,920 (£66,092)	Payments in respect of a judicial review.
Goodbody Economic Consultants	€107,928 (£85,000)	Research into the career progression of persons with disability at all general service grades within the Irish Civil Service.
DKM Economic Consultants	€35,045 (£27,600)	Advice to the Minister in relation to the charging of a fee for UMTS licences.
Masons Solicitors	€72,200 (£56,862)	Engaged to advise and assist in the competitive process to award the National Lottery licence.
Mercer Ltd.	€26,119 (£20,570)	Actuarial exercise in connection with National Pensions Reserve Fund.
Brindley Advertising	€6,288 (£7,984)	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Adept Creative Services Ltd.	€1,294,176 (£1,019,246)	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.
All Ireland Media Ltd.	€4,368,925 (£3,440,808)	Purchase of media space for Euro changeover advertising.
Data Options	€31,054 (£24,457)	Outsourcing of data entry work for Paymaster General's Office during very busy periods.
Fitzpatrick Associates	€103,164	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Hay Management Consultants	€117,640	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
PE Consulting Services	€4,800	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Saville and Holdingsworth (Irl) Ltd.	€4,800	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
IPC Consulting Facilitators	€4,800	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
MCG Consulting Group	€172,006	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Cap Gemini Ernst & Young	€4,800	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Alpha Consulting	€150,284	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
KPMG Management Consultants	€4,800	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Mercer Ltd.	€157,200	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
TBP International Ltd.	€195,126	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Mr. Billy Power	€2,724 (£2,145)	Consultancy in relation to public service pensions.

2002

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Seamus Dowling	€5,500	Customisation of database for Departmental Training Unit.
Merrion Corporate Finance	€95,231	Provision of corporate and financial advice in relation to the sale of ACC bank.
PriceWaterhouse Cooper	€103,697	Audit of Completion Accounts in relation to sale of ACC bank.
Gerard Hogan SC	€960	Provision of legal advice in relation to the establishment of the new financial services regulatory authority.
Carr Communications	€37,394	Provision of public relations services in relation to the Euro changeover.
Adept Creative Services Ltd.	€129,838	Design and delivery of Euro changeover advertising campaign.
All Ireland Media Ltd.	€1,246,651	Purchase of media space for Euro changeover advertising.
Deloitte & Touche	€10,871	Assistance in oversight of Euro changeover preparations.
PM Centrix	€1,936	Provision of computer system workshop.
Spin Solutions	€9,680	Web hosting consultancy.
E-Blana	€1,542	Assistance in computer installation.
Langley Freeman Design Group Ltd.	€5,585	Layout and design work.
Capita Consulting	€30,928	Provision of Request for tender Template to reflect common accounting and technical needs for Management Information Systems.
Ican Interactive Advertising	€134,000	Marketing and promotion of the e Tenders website.
Hay Management Consultants	€2,641	Workshop for Secretaries General on performance related awards for Assistant Secretaries.
Hay Management Consultants	€4,571	Evaluation of chief executive positions in state organisations.
Hay Management Consultants	€225,797	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Alpha Consulting	€48,053	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
TBP International Ltd.	€111,896	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
DLA	€265,629	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Watson Wyatt Partners	€632,115	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
Tim Hastings and Associates	€6,144	Consultancy relating to Benchmarking process.
KPMG Consultants	€2,396	HRMS Time and Attendance computer system interface scoping project.
KPMG Consultants	€70,078 (payments to date)	HRMS Implementation project.
Brindley Advertising	€23,379	Public awareness campaign to highlight issue of dormant accounts. Half of payment only – other half of payment made by Dept. of Social and Family Affairs.
Mr. Billy Power	€1,194 (£940) to date	Consultancy in relation to public service pensions.

Some projects covering over one year for which an annual breakdown is not available

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Mr. Lauri McDonnell	€6,984 (£5,500) [1999-2001]	Process Auditor to sale of ICC Bank plc.
ABN AMRO Corporate Finance & McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	€895,165 (£705,000) [1999-2001]	Provision of corporate and legal advice with regard to the Sale of ICC Bank plc.
Arthur Cox Solicitors	€96,661 (£76,127) [2000-2001]	Provision of legal advice with regard to the sale of TSB Bank to Irish Life and Permanent.
Deloitte & Touche	€35,045 contract value (£27,600) [2001/ongoing]	Assist in the detailed specification of, and the selection of, new financial software to support the Department's Management Information Framework project.
A&L Goodbody Solicitors	€345,561 (value of contract to date) (£272,151) [2001/ongoing]	Provision of legal advice in relation to the sale of ACC Bank to Rabobank Nederland.
A&L Goodbody Solicitors	€1,640,000 (value of contract to date) (£1,291,605) [2001/ongoing]	Provision of legal advice in relation to the drafting of legislation on the establishment of the new financial services regulatory authority.
O'Donnell Sweeney Solicitors	€96,276 [2001/ongoing]	Provision of legal advice regarding drafting of (Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002).
Team comprising Dr. Peter Humphreys – Institute of Public Administration, Dr. Eileen Drew – Trinity College and Ms Candy Murphy – Goodbody Economic Consultants	€57,138 [October 1997-October 1998]	Research into gender imbalance in the civil service.
Marie O'Brien	€1,523.69 [March-May 2000]	Report into operation of civil service creche in Lower Mount Street.
Solutions People Management Consultants	€634.87 [July-September 2001]	Training for Investigators under the Civil Service's anti harassment, sexual harassment and bullying policy.
Goodbody Economic Consultants	€107,497.55 [March 2001-January 2002]	Research into Career Progression of Staff with a Disability in the Civil Service.
International Bureau	€3,403 [December 2001-February 2002]	Survey of tax incentives for renewable energy in the EU.
PriceWaterhouse Cooper	€862,000 [2001-2002]	Study in relation to the e Procurement initiative.
Deloitte and Touche	€35,045 [2001 ongoing]	Provision of assistance in the detailed specification of new software to support the department's Management Information Framework project.
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	€69,542 [October 1999 to March 2001]	Secondment of a solicitor to assist in relation to legal and related matters arising within the Department.
Matheson Ormsby Prentice Solicitors	€107,055 [May 2001 – ongoing]	Secondment of a solicitor to assist in relation to legal and related matters arising within the Department.
Pricewaterhouse Cooper	€58,230 [July 1997 to September 1998]	Secondment of an accountant to provide financial, accountancy and related advice.
Pricewaterhouse Cooper	€31,407 [September 1998-March 1999]	Secondment of an accountant to provide financial, accountancy and related advice.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Pricewaterhouse Cooper	€73,892 [March 1999-December 2000]	Secondment of an accountant to provide financial, accountancy and related advice.
Ernst and Young	€67,849 [September 1998-March 1999]	Secondment of an accountant to provide financial, accountancy and related advice.
Deloitte and Touche	€133,968 [May 2001 – ongoing]	Secondment of an accountant to provide financial, accountancy and related advice.
Compaq	€817,277 (£643,658) [October 1988-August 1999]	Re-write of payable order reconciliation system in Paymaster General's Office to make it year 2000 compliant.
Ms Joan Curry	€57,138 per annum [May 2002-May 2004]	Contract accountant to assist in the implementation of the Department's Management Information Project.

NDP/CSF Evaluation, Information and IT Units (Paid out of the Technical Assistance Programmes of the Community Support Framework for the Structural Funds)

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
IPA	€1,152 (£907)	Consultancy regarding ongoing evaluation in the CSF.
Fitzpatrick Associates	€3,687 (£2,904)	Consultancy re: prior Appraisal of NDP 2000-2006.
PriceWaterhouse Cooper Belfast	€76,184 (£60,000)	Ongoing Evaluation of the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
ESRI	€274,898 (£216,500)	Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for Post-1999 Structural and Cohesion Funds.
IPA	€2,305 (£1,815)	Project advice on production of CSF Indicators paper.
IPA	€28,597 (£22,522)	Drafting and production of Structural Funds Procedures Manual.
Fleishman-Hillard Saunders	€41,272 (£32,504)	Consultancy on NDP Communications Strategy.
Drury Communications Research	€51,334 (£40,429)	Public awareness research on NDP/CSF 2000-2006.
ECOTEC Research & Consulting Ltd.	€15,918 (£12,536)	Ex-ante evaluation of Ireland/Wales Interreg IIIA.
ECOTEC Research & Consulting Ltd.	€12,001 (£9,452)	Evaluation of Interreg IIIB Atlantic Area.
ESRI/Deloitte & Touche	€32,559 (£25,642)	Phase One of a study of the Labour Market Impact of Human Resources (Education and Training) Interventions in the Community Support Framework for Ireland, 1994-1999.
ESRI	€59,612, (£46,948)	Phase Two of above study.
Indecon Consultants	€32,225 (£25,380)	Public transport evaluation.
Fitzpatrick Associates	€34,801 (£27,408)	Roads evaluation.
Fitzpatrick Associates	€37,434 (£29,482)	Human resources evaluation.
CMG UK Limited	€768,811 (£605,488)	Analysis, Design and Development of a computerised system for the Structural and Cohesion Funds management.
PriceWaterhouse Cooper	€96,792 (£76,230)	Report on Planning Phase 1 for CSF/ European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund Community Initiatives Computer System.
Capita Consulting	€33,505 (£26,387)	Human resources follow-up surveys.
Curtin Communications	€239,152 (£188,348)	Provision of publicity services relating to NDP/CSF.
Windmill Lane	€109,221 (£86,018)	Design / development of NDP website.
Arthur Andersen	€160,552 (£126,445) (Post July 1997 payments amounted to £63,223)	Review of the financial management and control systems relating to the European Regional Development Fund, the EU Cohesion Fund and the EFTA Cohesion Fund.
Fitzpatrick & Associates	€125,964 (£99,205)	Review of Project Appraisal and Selection Procedures in the Community Support Framework for Ireland, 1994-1999.
Economics Dept NUI	€2,032 (£1,600)	Labour Market Impact of HR. Interventions.
Economics Dept NUI	€2,032 (£1,600)	Labour Market Impact of HR. Management.

Name of Consultant	Cost	Brief Description of Project
Coopers & Lybrand	£5,000 Sterling	Economic Appraisal of an Ireland/Northern Ireland Interreg Economic Development project application entitled “The Cross Border Furniture Development Programme”.
ESRI	€97,008 (£76,400)	Mid-term review of the Community Support framework 1994-1999.
ESRI	€36,000	Eco audit.
Allen recruitment	€76,521	Information technology system design.
Memorex	€189,202	Information technology consultancy.
RTS	€16,751	Software consultancy.
Web Factory	€111,422	Web design.
Office Objects Ltd.	€1,219	Oracle contract programming.
Adept Creative Facilities	€60,607	Advertising campaign for NDP/Copywrite art and design.
Data Way	€303	Information technology system support.
Lansdowne Market research	€14,822	NDP public awareness research.
Expert and Consultancy	€4,306	Information technology system consultancy.