Wednesday, 17 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 228-236

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Questions (228)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

228. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant; if the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45301/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The annual spend on consultancy by my Department in each of the years 2008-2011 and to date in 2012 is as follows:

Year	Department	Agencies	Total
2008	€687,678	€1,243,317	€1,930,995
2009	€184,490	€269,829	€454,319
2010	€93,388	€141,162	€234,550
2011	€33,888	€45,260	€79,148
2012 to Date	€199,541	€50,731	€250,272

My Department operates within the legal framework of EU procurement directives and the guidance of the Department of Finance for procurements under EU thresholds - as required. In line with these policies my Department seeks to ensure that where practicable all tenders over €25,000 are publicly advertised either on e-tenders or in the EU Journal. It should be noted that in the matter of all publicly held competitive tender exercises, the Award Criteria used by the Department for the evaluation of proposals is 'The Most Economically Advantageous Tender'.

The names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts, the nature of the work concerned and the fees paid to each consultant in each year are listed in the table below.

2008	-	-
Consultant	Amount (€)	Purpose
Department
Carr Communications	1,100	Communications services.
IBI Group (UK) Ltd.	33,612	To assist the Project Board which was set up to oversee the tender process for the outsourcing of the Camera Project
Byrne O'Cleirigh	1,703	Consultant engineers, specialising in technical risk assessment.
Public Communications Centre	50,000	Development and management of the “Dial to Stop Drug Dealing” Campaign
Golder Associates	1,028	Engaged to advise the Department in relation to a soil contamination issue.
Keville & O'Sullivan Associates	1,621	Risk assessment and analysis of site soil prior to commencing the tender process.
McCann Fitzgerald Solictors	60,500	Research regarding Courts Consolidation Project.
Bernadette Kiely	5,556	HR consultancy services.
Graphite HRM Ltd	31,469	Graphite HRM Ltd. engaged to conduct an Organisational Survey.
Jenny Smyth & Associates	26,015	Provision of analysis and report relating to the Participation Rates in HR competitions.
Prospectus	36,936	Contracted to monitor, evaluate and provide a report on the implementation of the Performance Management Development System, (PMDS).
Professor Paul Robinson	14,520	Expert Advice re: Legal Codification project.
Helm Corporation Ltd	7,411	Consultancy services provided in relation to Risk Management assessment.
Brendan Shiels	21,153	Quality Assessment provided on Value for Money Review re: Probation Service.
Petrus Consultancy Ltd	56,942	VFM Expenditure Review Probation Service
Accenture	338,112	The second phase of the Risk Management Performance Improvement (RMPI) programme in 2008, and the creation of a comprehensive risk management policy framework.
Agencies
Young Communications	968	Advice on Media Issues
Billy Power	11,253	Pension Advice
Anne Neary Consultants	49,804	Legal Services risk assessment
Archimedia	10,406	Advice to independent Examination of Stardust Committee
Dr Marie Keenan	400	Consultative Service for Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Inquiry
Indecon Economic Consultants	8,353	Study on Eligibility for and Scope of Legal Aid
Accenture	19,517	Advice to Garda National Immigration Bureau re: information systems.
Q4 Public Relations	55,147	Advice on media issues for Irish Human Rights Commission (I.H.R.C.)
Mentoring Connections	7,623	Consultancy Services on Change Management
Chartered Institute of Logistics	3,500	Evaluation of Tenders
PWC	28,219	Review of systems of internal financial control and corporate governance of the I.H.R.C.
Corporate Community	12,500	Technical Assistance to the National Framework Committee for Equal Opportunities at the level of the Enterprise
Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI)	94,549	Equality & Discrimination Research Project
Helm Corporation Ltd	4,749	Review of Governance in the Equality Authority
Sinead Lucey	18,643	Case management review
RA Consulting	10,019	Customer services charter and action plan
RA Consulting	7,840	Strategic Development Facilitation support - Review and Development of Strategic Thinking
Siobhan Philips	11,495	Review of “Say No to Ageism” Week
Nascon	3,561	Risk assessment audit
Maureen Bassett	3,000	I.H.R.C. strategic plan development
Hibernian Consulting	16,608	Review of European Year of Equal Opportunities
Maureen Gilbert	18,150	Initiative to promote understanding of needs of disabled persons
PA Consulting	82,279	Organisational and Strategic Plan review of the Equality Authority
Rochemartin	1,000	Leaders Seminar
Siobhan Lynam Research & Consultancy	19,602	Provided research consultancy into Gender Proofing Policies.
Tracey O'Brien	1,300	Equality Proofing Consultancy
Communications Consultants	2,000	Plan Communications Strategy
Irish Recruitment Consultants	6,191	Consultancy Services
Equality Strategies	24,684	Research into the drafting of equality reviews and action plans for use by the private sector.
Polaris Human Resources Ltd	46,539	Research into the drafting of equality reviews and action plans for use by the private sector.
Q4 Public Relations	95,375	Provision of public relations and consultancy services with regard to the National Action Plan Against Racism.
Bellane	24,873	Public Relations
Bloom Advertising	81,675	National Disability Awareness Campaign
CM Advice	5,445	Monitoring Committee Workshop
Hay Management	2,420	Evaluation of Posts.
Insight Consulting	13,830	Public Relations advice to NDA
John Cullen	8,833	Review of the library and information services in NDA
Rehab Enterprises	61,421	Consultancy re: “Excellence Through Accessability” Awards
Strategem	3,116	EU Briefing
Billy Power	1,452	Financial Consultancy
Henley Kavanagh McGowan	3,388	Quantity Survey Report
Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI)	9,957	Research Consultancy for "Fear of Crime" project
BSB Forensic	1,482	Completion of forensic analysis and enhancement of video / CCTV footage and photographic prints of same; provision of evidential statement from the Analyst for court proceedings
Executive Security	145,084	Security Advice
Mark Bradley	1,815	Advice & Consultation on Setting up of GSOC Unit
Stephen Howson	816	Firearms Research
Talbot Associates	94,138	Project Development of GSOC Statement of Strategy
Techskills Resources	393	Building Alterations Project Consultant
Thangam Debbonaire	5,445	Mapping and Strategy Development
Executive Security	4,160	Security Consultancy
Hewlett Packard Ireland Ltd	3,630	Evaluation of Tenders for the provision of telecommunication services
Mary Murphy Associates	54,989	Public Relations
Awn Consulting	3,987	Air Quality Advice
Dr. Charles Czeisler	7,313	Advising the Garda Inspectorate on best practice regarding police rostering systems especially from a health and physiology perspective.
Gwen M Strachan	6,199	Advice to the Garda Inspectorate regarding its quality business practices, processes and procedures during its inception
Mr Barry Loveday	4,029	Advice relating to civilianisation within police forces.
Transsafe Consulting, LLC	8,336	Consultancy Services re: Roads Policing
Abacus Transportation	847	Road Speed Surveys
ANV Technology Ltd	399	Report on Detention Centres
Barrett Mahony	1,493	Consultancy Service in respect of Civil Engineering Feasibility Study
Barrett Mahony	2,667	Consultancy Services in respect to Perimeter fencing and associated works
Holohan Architects	56,870	Payment for architectural design services for works at Oberstown detention facility.
James Smyth Architects	19,117	Architectural services and co-ordinated specialist surveys relating to the development of new detention school facilities
Kerrigan Sheanon Newman	14,471	Quantity Surveying Services re Feasibility Study Oberstown & Finglas Centres
McAllister, Devereux, Keating	5,081	Survey of Oberstown Girls Remand & Assessment Unit, for asbestos prior to demolition.
Michael Punch	3,021	Engineering services to prepare design and tender documentation for replacement of Oberstown Campus swimming pool.

2009
Consultant	Amount (€)	Purpose
Department
Mr Barry Loveday	11,826	Provision of expert advice regarding civilianisation within police forces.
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors	158,771	Consultancy Services - Codification of Courts Act
Graphite HRM	111	Consultancy Expenses - HRMS
Prospectus	4,919	Professional Fees - Human Resources Division
Thinksmart	8,863	Evaluation of tenders support Contract
Agencies
Price Waterhouse Cooper	67,078	Advice on scope and implementation options for an Immigration Case Management System
Purchasing Soutions	7,229	Evaluation of Tenders for Supply of Accommodation Centres
Cimtech	3,852	Review of draft Request for Tender
Billy Power	6,902	Pension advice
Anne Neary Consultants	10,907	Legal services risk assessment
Edel Hackett	6,292	Communications Support and Advice
PA Consulting Group	22,003	Strategy and Organisational Review of the Equality Authority.
RA Consulting	10,134	Review of the Equality Authority Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
Polaris Human Resources Ltd.	10,920	Research into the drafting of equality reviews and action plans for use by the private sector.
Bellane Ltd.	47,636	Communications Support and Advice
Clarion Consulting	8,607	Advice/facilitation regarding drafting of NDA 2010-2012 Strategic Plan
Mazars	4,739	Audit services
Rehab Enterprises	4,054	Delivery of professional services for the EtA (Excellence Through Accessibility Awards) project to the NDA
Finbar Flood Consultancy	3,281	Facilitator Fees
Kavanagh Tuite Architects	1,215	Professional Fees - Inspection & Preliminary Report on Premises
Executive Security (ESCAT)	18,775	Advice on all aspects of security pertaining to premises, personnel and data
i2 Limited	6,752	IT advice and services.
Talbot Associates Ltd.	17,991	Advice on business process and organizational restructuring.
Mary Murphy Associates	462	Communications Support and Advice.
Lorcan Walsh	3,600	Data Analysis Service
Dublin Institute of Technology	7,400	Advice on set up of Property Service Regulatory Authority.

2010
Consultant	Amount (€)	Purpose
Department
IBI Group (UK) Ltd.	26,979	Assist in the set up and overview of the tender process for the outsourcing of the Camera Project
Byrne O'Cleirigh	5,114	Carry out the risk assessment on the underground storage of explosives at Tara Mines
McCann Fitzgerald Solictors	61,295	Research consultancy regarding Courts Consolidation Project,
Agencies
Bellane Ltd	3,897	Communications Support and Advice
Equality Strategies Ltd.	8,168	Review of governance / management structures for the Court Support Service,
Lowers & Associates LLC	70,186	Risk assessment services and advice relating to all operational aspects of the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry.
Dr. Charles A Czeisler	9,684	Advice on best practice regarding police rostering.
Gavin Group	11,715	Advice on best practices in child sex abuse investigations.
Billy Power	2,170	Pension advice
RJW Associates Ltd.	1,364	Review of Garda policy in the investigation of sexual crimes and crimes against children
Digital Revolutionaries	13,183	IT advice and services
Eustace Patterson Ann Clarke	16,970	Evaluation of the Lighthouse Sex Offender programme
RA Consulting	1,090	Planning and Facilitation at Equality Authority Staff Day
Jarlath Duffy Associates	928	The Design, Preparation and delivery of a facilitated Equality Authority Senior Management Strategic Review Day
Nascon	1,807	Safety Statement draft formulation and revisions for the EA - Risk Assessment site visit
2011
Consultant	Amount (€)	Purpose
Department
Professor Gisli Gudjonsson	6,867	Review of Garda Training in interviewing suspects
Forensic Navigation Services Ltd.	7,316	Review of Garda Training in interviewing suspects
Byrne, O' Cleirigh	3,993	Consultant engineers engaged to carry out the risk assessment on the underground storage of explosives at Tara Mines.
LHM Casey McGrath	15,712	Recommendations on Thornton Build and Penal Policy
Agencies
Lowers & Associates LLC	24,289	Risk assessment services and advice relating to all operational aspects of the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry.
DHKN	2,759	Review of Internal Financial Control Procedures Manual
DHKN	2,269	Risk Register Management Process
Andrew Doyle Safety Consultants	2,662	Health & Safety Consultancy.
PAPS Public (Damien Smith)	2,898	Pension advice.
John Brosnan	400	Review and advice of new Garda rosters.
Ann Clarke	9,983	Feasibility study on the introduction of a Circles of Support and Accountability Model (COSA) in Ireland

2012
Consultant	Amount (€)	Purpose
Department
McCann, Fitzgerald, Solicitors	199,541	Advice relating to the Personal Insolvency Service
Agencies
Seamus O'Dwyer	1,000	Pension advice
Lowers & Associates LLC	24,156	Risk assessment services and advice relating to all operational aspects of the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry
Christopher Fox	12,304	Provision of advice on the rationalisation of senior management positions in the Garda Siochana.
Dr.Ron Iphofen	2,768	Provision of ethical advice on the study design of research.
PAPS Public (Damien Smith)	589	Pension advice
MAZARS	7,011	Strategy development
Eneclann Ltd	2,903	Record Management Services

Legal Matters

Questions (229)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

229. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by him, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45318/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform the Deputy that, with very few exceptions, legal advice is provided for my Department by the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. As such, the issues of fees and competitive tendering do not arise. The specific information sought by the Deputy in respect of my Department and bodies and agencies for which I have responsibility, is outlined in the table below.

	Subject Matter	Firm Involved	Fees Paid (€)	Subject to Tender (Y/N)	Nature of Advice
2012	Development of the Insolvency Bill 2012	McCann Fitzgerald, Solicitors	199,541	N	General insolvency issues
2011	N/A
2010	N/A
2009	N/A
2008	Consolidation of the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders.	Matheson, Ormsby & Prentice	4,432	Y	Not Stated.

I wish to advise the Deputy that there are a range of agencies and bodies within the Justice sector who are statutorily independent and for whom I do not have responsibility. Information in respect of these bodies is not provided in this reply.

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Questions (230)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

230. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to his Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to him over the past 12 months, in tabular form. [45335/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 36656/12 of the 19th July 2012, which covered the period to the end of June 2012, wherein I advised that the only manner in which my Department can identify professional services is by reference to the automatic deduction of Professional Withholding Tax. This tax covers a range of professional activities not limited to the examples supplied by the Deputy. The listing sought by the Deputy amounts to 522,015 individual transactions over the 12 month period to 30th September 2012. As previously advised, the sheer volume and scale of information sought would make the provision of a full listing unsuitable for transmission via the PQ system. In the period from the 1st July to 30th September 2012, the period not covered under PQ 36656/12, a total of 1,487 individual firms had withholding tax deducted from payments totalling €13.7m. Of this total, €10.8m is accounted for by payments to legal professionals under the system of criminal legal aid.

Property Services Regulation

Questions (231)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

231. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applicants for a licence pursuant to the Property Service (Regulations) Act 2011, that have been found to have been operating without the requisite licence or permit under the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947 to 1973 for three of the five years immediately preceding their application; the number of applications that are currently being queried on account of not presenting evidence to date of holding such a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45362/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I refer the Deputy to Questions Nos. 450, 451 and 452 of 9th October 2012. The Deputy asks for the number of licence applicants “that have been found to have been operating without the requisite licence permit under the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947 to 1973 for three of the five years immediately preceding their application”. The Authority does not seek this information generally for the purposes of the licence application as it has relevance only in very specific circumstances. Consequently, it does not have the information which the Deputy is seeking.

The only time where the holding of a licence from the Revenue Commissioners for three of the five years immediately preceding the making of the application is relevant is where the applicant is presenting it as evidence of their qualification. In this regard it should be noted that one of a number of criteria which must be met before a licence may be granted is that the applicant meets the statutory “minimum qualifications”. This requires that an applicant have either a minimum “academic qualification” or a “minimum level of experience”. A “minimum level of experience” means, having been lawfully engaged in the provision of the property service, in respect of which the licence is sought, for three of the five years immediately preceding the making of the application. Such experience may be verified in a number of ways, including the presentation of three licences issued by the Revenue Commissioners in the five years immediately preceding the making of the application.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (232)

Michael McGrath

Question:

232. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form, in respect of 2011, the number of payments issued by his Department and each agency within the remit of his Department to suppliers in respect of the supply of goods and services; splitting the payments between those issued within 30 days of receipt of the invoice; between 30 and 60 days of receipt of the invoice; between 60 and 90 days of receipt of the invoice; between 90 and 120 days of receipt of the invoice; and in excess of 120 days of receipt of the invoice. [45015/12]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Details of the number of supplier payments issued by the Department of Defence for the Defence Sector are set out in the following table.

NO. OF PAYMENTS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE IN 2011

Total number of payments	0-30 Days	31-60 Days	61-90 Days	91-120 Days	Over 120 Days
42,647	41,981	505	79	34	48

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Questions (233)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

233. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant; if the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45294/12]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by my Department and its agencies, including the Defence Forces, for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 is set out in the table below. My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous examination of skills and resources available in-house. The objective of using outside consultants is to ensure that my Department achieves value for money by implementing recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.

My Department adheres to the standards set out in the Public Procurement rules & guidelines in awarding contracts.

Year	Name of Consultancy	Purpose	Amount
2007/08	Murray Consultants	A Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning. The contract provided for the development of the Emergency Planning website, drafting, publication and distribution of a handbook on Emergency Planning and a media advertisement campaign associated with the launch of the handbook.	€2.1million
2008-2012	ABS Ltd	Consultancy on compliance with IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulations / ship surveys	€113496
2008/2009	Moloney & Assoc Ltd	Consultancy on Noise survey on LE EMER on completion of remedial work	€5,760
2008/09/10/11/12	Fujitsu (Ireland) Ltd	Provide consultancy and maintenance services for the organisation’s Oracle e Business Suite and related applications.	€280,370
2008/09/10/11/12	Col. E.V. Campion	Provides expert advice to the Army Equitation School’s Horse Purchase Board in their deliberations following the inspection of horses that are being considered for purchase. The cost per annum is €5,000.	€25,000
2009/11	Version 1 Ltd	Commissioned in 2009 and 2011 to provide a report in respect of Oracle licence management in the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The results of this report will assist in the formulation of policy and practice in the area of licence management.	€3,661
2008/09	PA Consultant Group	Commissioned to make recommendations on the best means of meeting the medical requirements of the Defence Forces. The consultancy focused on the sustainable provision of the relevant medical expertise and services to the Defence Forces. The consultants recommended a programme of major change, implementation of which is ongoing.	€115,130
2008	Independent Monitoring Group	i.r.o Doyle Reports concerning Harassment, Bullying & Discrimination	€37,109
2008/10	FGS Consulting	A Value for Money Review of Military Training Lands. This review is part of a programme agreed between the Department of Defence and the Department of Finance as part of the Government’s Value for Money and Policy Review initiative. The review is at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that this report will be completed in the near future.	€89,540
2008	McCann Fitzgerald, Solicitors	To provide legal drafting, research and advice services in relation to the drafting of revised Rules of Procedure and new Court Martial Rules following the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2007.	€53,845
2008	BMT Defence Services Ltd, UK	Engaged in relation to the Naval Vessel Replacement Programme.	€85,603
2008	Entograph Ltd	were commissioned to carry out a report for the control of bracken in the Glen of Imaal	€30,129
2008	Mott McDonald Ltd	Commissioned to carry out a review of the Safety Policy at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel.	€50,000
2008	Mr. Brendan Gallagher, Refrigeration Consultant	Consultancy on the phase out of R22 in refrigeration and air conditioning plants on NS ships	€9,860
2008	Promara	Naval Architect Services	€7,714
2008	Redstone Technologies	I.T Consultancy for disaster recovery Plan for Fishery Protection Service	€4,961
2008	Sea Training International	Consultancy on Naval RIBs in use	€7,755
2009	Deloitte	A review of the Finance Branch of the Department. The objective of the review was to examine the business processes, procedures and organisational structures in operation in Finance Branch and to provide a report making recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. The review is now being implemented and is delivering staff savings and improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.	€97,868
2009	Mc Guinness Killen Partnership Ltd	An independent review of documentation in relation to a legal action initiated by a staff member.	€2,430
2009	Raymond Burke Consulting	An independent quality assessment of the Value for Money Review of Naval Service Vessel Maintenance, as part of the standard VFM process.	€2,800
2009	Achilles Procurement	ICT consultancy was for the running of the Competitive Dialogue Process in the procurement of the Network Operating System.	€600
2009/12	Energy Services, Kinsale Co. Cork	Energy Consultant to advise on the technical aspects of a joint procurement exercise with the Garda, Dept of Justice and Irish Prison Services in 2009. As a result of employing an energy consultant considerable savings were made in Subhead K in the Electricity area.	€40,563
2009	Germanisher Lloyd	Consultancy on compliance with IMO regulations	€14,351
2010	DQ Networks	Technical assistance with the technical plan for the Decentralisation to Newbridge	€10,386
2010	Epsilon Consulting	An independent quality assessment of the Value for Money Review of Military Training Lands as part of the standard VFM process.	€2,178
2011	ISAS	Information Security Advice relating to mobile mail solution	€10,395
2011	Eirdata Environmental Services Ltd	Provide consultancy on the implementation of Energy Saving Measures to ensure compliance with EN16001 & EN50001	€5,808
2011	Graham Evans Fire & Safety	To carry out Survey, Full Risk Assessment of potential risks involved with storage of fuels/bunkering procedures for ships/provide design drawings and proposals for suitable Fixed Fire Fighting System for the Naval Base Oil Storage Facility, to ensure that the NS is compliant to the International Maritime Standards (ISGOTT)	€2,880
2011	University of Limerick	Consultancy on Value Management Procedure/Exercise on the decommissioning of vessels in the NS	€5,869
2011	Hydrographic Surveys	Consultancy relating to Basin Dredging	€4,452
2011	Malachy Walsh and Partners	Consultancy to ensure NS compliance with EPA requirements for a Waste Water Discharge Licence for Haulbowline	€6,060.59
2012	Bianconi Research Ltd. T/A RITS	Security Partner Consultancy	€18,204
2011 & 2012	SGS Ireland Ltd	Consultancy to ensure NS compliance with EN16001:2009 Energy Management Systems (€5021.50) EU Emission Verification Mandatory requirement for outside body to conduct verification (€1,190)	€6212

Legal Matters

Questions (234)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

234. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by him, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45311/12]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Chief State Solicitors Office and the State Claims Agency deal with all legal matters on behalf of the Department. As such it would seldom arise that the Department procures the services of external solicitors and barristers directly. The table below only includes costs incurred by the Department in obtaining legal advices directly and does not include legal costs in relation to litigation cases which are mainly managed by the State Claims Agency and the Chief State Solicitors Office. I can obtain that information for the Deputy should she require it.

Name of Solicitors	Subject Matter of Advice Sought	Fee Paid	Advertised for Competitive Tender?
2007
McCann Fitzgerald solicitors	Contracted to provide legal drafting, research and advice services in relation to the drafting of new Rules of Procedure and Court Martial Rules following the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2007.	€59,895, including VAT, was paid in 2008.	Yes.

Name of Solicitors	Subject Matter of Advice Sought	Fee Paid	Advertised for Competitive Tender?
2008
B.P. McCormack & Son, Solicitors	The Defence Forces Canteen Board procured legal advice in relation to two cases. Firstly, advice was sought concerning the amendment of regulations and, secondly, legal advice was sought in a case taken by an employee of the Board.	€5,505.50, including VAT, was paid in 2008.	No.
2009
Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
2010
Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Name of Solicitors	Subject Matter of Advice Sought	Fee Paid	Advertised for Competitive Tender?
2011
AL Goodbody Solicitors	Legal advice in relation to a conciliation hearing between my Department and a building contractor.	€21,168.75, including VAT, was paid in 2011.	No competitive tender competition was held due to the short timescale available between notification of the requirement for legal advice and the date of the conciliation meeting. AL Goodbody was selected to provide this service on the basis that they had been engaged by the Department of Finance to provide advice on the contract documents that were the subject matter of the hearing.
2012 to date
Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

The Deputy should note that the overall figure of €59,895 to Mc Cann Fitzgerald Solictors for 2007 includes an amount of €6,050 including VAT, which was paid to counsel as part of this advisory requirement. This figure was omitted from a previous Parliamentary Question answered on 25th October 2011 due to an oversight and only came to light in the course of compiling the information for this answer.

While it possibly falls outside the terms of the question, for completeness, I would like to advise the Deputy that the independent selection committee for the military judge appointment sought legal advice arising from the 2010 Competition for the Military Judge. While the Committee is completely independent in its functions, the payment to senior counsel in respect of that advice in the amount of €9,075 including VAT was paid in 2011 out of my Department’s Vote.

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Questions (235)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

235. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to his Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to him over the past 12 months, in tabular form. [45328/12]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Afforestation Programme

Questions (236)

John Lyons

Question:

236. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if provisions will be included during any possible sale of certain Coillte assets, including harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests, that an afforestation programme must be undertaken in order to encourage a gradual increase in the number of trees rather than a short-term sell-off of our forests. [44967/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In relation to the Government Decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for possible sale, Coillte Board and management have been actively engaged in recent months with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets.

The process is at an early stage and a number of issues, including the replanting obligation, have been identified in relation to the possible harvesting rights concession. In order to preserve the forest estate, my Department’s long-term policy is that, apart from exceptional circumstances, replanting should take place on all areas harvested.

The Forest Service of my Department promotes afforestation, on an ongoing basis, as a viable land use for farmers through the provision of planting grants and payment of annual premiums. A total of €111.76 million in funding for capital and current expenditure was allocated for the overall forestry programme in 2012, to facilitate the payment for close to 7,000 hectares of new planting.