Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
347 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the composite amount paid to lawyers engaged by or on behalf of the State in any forum or for any purpose, including tribunals, courts, consultancies, legislative drafting and other work during 2003; the amount paid from 1 January 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31888/04]
View answer348 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the ten highest composite figures paid to barristers engaged by or on behalf of the State in any forum or for any purpose, including tribunals, courts, consultancies, legislative drafting and other work during 2003; the ten highest figures paid from 1 January 2004; the names of the barristers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31902/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together.
Legal advice and support services for my Department in respect of court cases and legal challenges in which the Department is a named party, are supplied by the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and the State Claims Agency, as appropriate.
Legal fees paid to the Chief State Solicitor/State Claims Agency in 2003 amounted to €13,144.73 and in 2004 to date to €22,936.22. These legal costs were in respect of personal injury cases taken against the Department.
From 2001 until August 2003, my Department employed a legal adviser, the gross salary for this post for 2003 was €32,003.86. In August 2003, the post was vacated when the serving officer elected to take a career break. The post has not yet been filled and my Department has incurred no other expenditure in seeking legal advice.
Where legal costs were incurred in respect of agencies funded by my Department the details are as follows: Solicitor's fees paid by the Family Support Agency amounted to €12,544.18 in 2004. No barrister's fees were incurred.
Legal fees paid by Comhairle amounted to €34,585.42 in 2003 of which €2,057 was paid to Mr. Declan McGrath, BL. Fees paid in 2004 to date total €20,809.87 of which €2,117.50 was paid to Mr. Michael J. Howard, BL.
Solicitor's fees paid by the Combat Poverty Agency amounted to €3,074 in 2003 and to €15,683.61 in 2004 to date. No barrister's fees were incurred.
