Departmental Legal Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 November 2013

Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Questions (172)

Finian McGrath

Question:

172. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been spent on legal costs, that is, fees, expenses and so on by his Department and agencies under his remit; if he will provide a breakdown of the individual agencies and costs incurred by them for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [51076/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department generally avails of the legal services of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, however, occasionally engages private Solicitor firms and Junior and Senior Counsel. Details of such engagements are provided in the table below.

With regards to the State Bodies under my Department’s remit, any legal costs are an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned.

Year	Name of Firm	Reason for procurement	Amount paid (€)
2009	PP Ryan & Co. Solicitor	Legal Advice	185
-	Arthur Cox Solicitors	Legal advice on foreshore issues	125,790
-	Arthur Cox Solicitors	Professional Fees for advising DAFF on the release of restrictive covenants as to use of property located in Killybegs FHC	30,414
-	Martin E Marren Solicitors	Professional Fees re: Exchange of land at Rough Point.	3,645
-	Donnchadh McCarthy	Advice, Consultations, and Negotiations.	15,175
-	Dowling Kilpatrick	Swearing a variety of affidavits	246
-	Ted Harding	Advice, Consultations and Representation	12,393
-	Marjorie Farrelly	Advices, Consultation and Representation	4,084
-		Total for 2009	191,932
2010	PP Ryan & CO. Solicitor	Legal Advice	82,041
-	Martin E Marren Solicitors	Professional Fees re: Exchange of land at Rough Point.	24,612
-	D P Barry & Co	Professional Fees re Exchange of land at Rough Point.	3,600
-	Noel Whelan	Advices, Consultations and Representations	33,148
-	Dowling Kilpatrick	Swearing a variety of affidavits	262
-	Kennedy Fitzgerald Solicitor	Drafting summonses and attendance at Court	1,200
-		Total for 2010	144,863
2011	Rita Kilroy, S.C.	Attendance at a court case	150
-	Dowling Kilpatrick	Swearing affidavit	42
-	M.G. Ryan & Co. Solicitors	Legal fees	185,855
-	Colm Ó hOisín S.C.	Legal fees	43,560
-		Total for 2011	229,607
2012	Michael D Murray & Co, Solrs	Legal Fees: District Court Case Dept v Shannon Side Foods Ltd	4,674
-	Dowling Kilpatrick	Swearing a variety of affidavits	220
-		Total for 2012	4,894