I propose to take Questions Nos. 1463 and 1885 together.
The Department is aware of the need to minimise costs and in general avails of legal services and advice from the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. My Department has a Legal Unit, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such "in-house" legal experts reduces the costs which would be incurred if the Department was to engage externally for similar services. However, occasionally specialised legal services are required.
Details requested by the Deputy in relation to amounts paid by the Department for external legal services in relation to drafting of legislation, discovery and advice from 2012 to 2017 are set out in the table below, hourly rates are not available.
Year
|
Company
|
Amount
|
2017
|
Alan Byrne BL
|
€ 17,539
|
2017
|
Alana McArdle
|
€ 20,044
|
2017
|
Anthony Moore
|
€ 39,268
|
2017
|
Ben Grogan
|
€ 57,448
|
2017
|
Brian C. Murray
|
€ 308
|
2017
|
Cathal O'Currain
|
€ 8,118
|
2017
|
Claire B. Walsh
|
€ 5,773
|
2017
|
Claire Walsh
|
€ 2,138
|
2017
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 12,269
|
2017
|
Conor O'Higgins
|
€ 3,725
|
2017
|
Daniel Fennelly
|
€ 2,037
|
2017
|
Elizabeth Davey
|
€ 49,449
|
2017
|
Ellen O'Brien
|
€ 2,618
|
2017
|
Grainne Quinn
|
€ 1,181
|
2017
|
James Geoghegan
|
€ 2,424
|
2017
|
Jane Cassidy
|
€ 4,766
|
2017
|
Jennifer Goode B.L.
|
€ 2,091
|
2017
|
Jennifer Murphy
|
€ 5,832
|
2017
|
Julie O'Leary
|
€ 2,313
|
2017
|
Kate McCormack
|
€ 4,059
|
2017
|
Lucy O'Connell
|
€ 9,241
|
2017
|
Noel J. Travers
|
€ 2,460
|
2017
|
Orla Davoren
|
€ 3,452
|
2017
|
Raymond Comyn
|
€ 93,717
|
2017
|
Ruth A Fitz Gerald
|
€ 2,000
|
2017
|
Ruth More O'Ferrell
|
€ 4,816
|
2017
|
Sharon Brooks
|
€ 12,342
|
2017
|
Sinead Drinan
|
€ 6,150
|
2017
|
Sophie Honohan
|
€ 123
|
2017
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 7,182
|
2016
|
James Cross
|
€ 1,200
|
2016
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 7,719
|
2016
|
Conor Dignam SC
|
€ 67,650
|
2016
|
Noel Travers BL
|
€ 3,383
|
2016
|
Sophie Honohan
|
€ 1,550
|
2016
|
Eva Humphreys
|
€ 1,000
|
2016
|
Natalie McDonnell
|
€ 27,675
|
2016
|
Thomas Mitcheson QC
|
€ 23,170
|
2016
|
Jack Tchrakian
|
€ 1,200
|
2016
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 3,714
|
2015
|
Emma Doyle BL
|
€ 1,476
|
2015
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 11,685
|
2015
|
Jennifer Goode BL
|
€ 3,475
|
2015
|
Noel Travers BL
|
€ 5,074
|
2015
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 998
|
2014
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 15,683
|
2014
|
Brian C Murray BL
|
€ 3,075
|
2014
|
Noel J Travers BL
|
€ 728
|
2014
|
Jennifer Goode
|
€ 2,153
|
2014
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 6,505
|
2013
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 22,854
|
2013
|
Crionna Creagh BL
|
€ 615
|
2013
|
Noel J Travers
|
€ 1,691
|
2013
|
Helen Claire O’Hanlon BL
|
€ 2,030
|
2013
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 6,969
|
2013
|
Mervyn Hickey
|
€ 6,181
|
2012
|
Conor Feeney BL
|
€ 50,165
|
2012
|
Noel Travers
|
€ 6,458
|
2012
|
Brian Murray
|
€ 3,076
|
2012
|
Helen Claire O’Hanlon
|
€ 8,858
|
2012
|
Matheson Ormsby Prentice
|
€ 6,150
|
2012
|
Crionna Creagh
|
€ 3,075
|
2012
|
William Fry Solicitors
|
€ 11,036
|
2012
|
Mervyn Hickey
|
€ 10,793
|
2012
|
Nichola Hogan
|
€ 2,337
|
2012
|
Michelle Carey
|
€ 19,373
|
2012
|
Emily Ryan
|
€ 19,659
|
2012
|
Lisa Maher
|
€ 15,956
|
2012
|
James Benson
|
€ 8,979
|