Vol. 447 No. 3
2 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount the State pays out in court costs relating to cases being contested against the State for equality welfare payments; and if these figures will be made available. [3655/94]
The State is contesting cases in which proceedings were initiated after the introduction, in June 1992, of the retrospective legislation which provided for the payment of arrears in respect of the period of delay by the then Government in implementing EC Directive 79/7. Two "test" cases were heard in the High Court in June 1994 and judgment in these cases is expected shortly. The amount of costs payable by the State will not be known until such time as those proceedings are brought to a conclusion.
