Departmental Legal Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Questions (250)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

250. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, use solicitors' firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors, each year from 2011 to 2014 by his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the date until which his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, are contracted to use these solicitors' firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9197/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department did not engage the services of McCann Fitzgerald in the period 2011 to 2014. The amount paid to Arthur Cox solicitors by my Department and its offices for the years 2011 to end 2014 is as follows:

January – December 2011

Amount paid €	Dates of contract (if applicable)
135,288.00	13th September 2010 - 12th September 2011

January – December 2012

Amount paid €	Dates of contract (if applicable)
43,188.00	13th September 2011 - 10th May 2012
3,188.86	Not applicable

January – December 2013

Amount paid €	Dates of contract (if applicable)
5,712.00	Not applicable

January – December 2014

Amount paid €	Dates of contract (if applicable)
14,823.00	Not applicable

In 2014 Forfás, prior to its dissolution and in advance of its integration into my Department on 1 August, used the services of McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors, as follows:-

Amount paid €	Dates of contract (if applicable)
12,032.40	Not applicable

My Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and has adopted a number of measures to achieve this. The Department/Offices avail of the services of the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Attorney General’s Office in terms of the provision of legal advice and in terms of representation of the Department/Offices in Court cases.

Payment for contracts to Arthur Cox solicitors and McCann Fitzgerald solicitors is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned, for which I have no direct function.

I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any legal fees paid to these two firms for the years 2011 - 2014, and I will communicate this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.