Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2010

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Questions (281)

Brian Hayes

Question:

281 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an itemised list of payments made to external solicitors and to external barristers whose services were procured directly by the Department and by each agency and body under its aegis in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the reason for each such procurement; if such services were procured through competitive tendering processes in every instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40937/10]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Tony Killeen)

In 2007 McCann Fitzgerald solicitors were contracted, through a competitive tendering process, to provide legal drafting, research and advice services in relation to the drafting of new Rules and Procedure and Court Martial Rules following the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2007. A payment for this service was made in 2008 to the value of €53,845 which included VAT. The Defence Forces Canteen board have procured legal advice from B.P. McCormack & Son, Solicitors, when required, since 1944. The only payment made in the years listed was a payment of €5,505.50 in 2008 in relation to two cases. Firstly, advice was sought concerning the amendment of Regulations and secondly legal advice sought in a case taken by an employee of the Board.