I propose to take Questions Nos. 2616 and 2784 together.
My Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and avails of the services of the Chief State Solicitor's office and the Attorney General's office in terms of the provision of legal advices and representation of the Department in Court cases.
The following table sets out details in relation to external legal services provided to my Department by legal firms from 2012 to date in 2018. The table does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal.
Company name
|
Details of legal fees / services
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
2014
|
2013
|
2012
|
|
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
Total (€)
|
A&L Goodbody
|
Legal advice on Water Abstraction
|
|
23,985
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arthur Cox
|
Legal Advice on Foreshore Consent Issues
|
50,000
|
33,070
|
|
20,767
|
39,010
|
81,415
|
55,180
|
Arthur Cox
|
Legal Advice - Pyrite Panel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,127
|
Eamon Galligan
|
Legal Advice -proposed amendment to section 261A of the Planning and Development Act 2000
|
|
|
|
|
2,433
|
|
1,353
|
Eversheds Sutherland
|
Legal advice - PPP Bundles (procurement/tenders)
|
48,922
|
167,200
|
22,407
|
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey Fox
|
Drafting of EU (Planning and Development) (Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations) 2018
|
43,050
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mason Hayes & Curran
|
Provision of Employment Law Advice
|
|
|
|
|
566
|
|
|
McDowell Purcell Solicitors
|
Legal Advice - DDDA
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,467
|
6,654
|
McKeever Solicitors
|
Witnessing signature of an affidavit
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rochford Brady Group
|
Legal Search
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
€141,972
|
€224,265
|
€22,407
|
€20,767
|
€42,032
|
€87,882
|
€69,314
|