Vol. 570 No. 2
143 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if the Attorney General has a list of barristers from which legal teams or representation are chosen to serve tribunals, inquiries or other public investigations under the aegis of the State; the criteria under which qualified persons are added to the list; the criteria under which qualified persons are selected from the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18706/03]
144 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the manner in which standard fee levels are set by the Attorney General for legal teams or representation serving any tribunal, inquiry or other public investigation under the aegis of the State; the regularity with which these fee levels are reassessed and adjusted; the rate at which standard fee levels are currently set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18707/03]
145 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the number of members appointed by the Attorney General to legal teams or representation serving any tribunal, inquiry or other public investigation under the aegis of any State body or Government Department since 1997; the names of those appointed and the legal teams to which they belong; the procedures followed to shortlist and select candidates for appointment to any legal team or representation serving any tribunal, inquiry or other public investigation under the aegis of the State; the moneys paid or payable to date to these legal teams or representation; the numbers appointed to any legal team or representation within this timeframe to act for the State or for the public interest; the total moneys paid or payable to date to those appointed; the numbers appointed to any legal team or representation within this timeframe, to act on behalf of a tribunal, inquiry or other public investigation; the total moneys paid or payable to date to those appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18708/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together.
I would refer the Deputy to the replies he received to his written Dáil questions of 17 June on the appointment of counsel to a tribunal or statutory inquiry to represent the tribunal or inquiry itself and to the appointment of counsel who advise or represent parliamentary committee inquiries.
As regards the appointment of counsel to represent State Departments before tribunals, inquiries or public investigations, these are nominated by the Attorney General. Suitability can only be gauged by reference to the subject matter of the tribunal or inquiry.
The Attorney General does not have a list of barristers from which legal teams for tribunals are chosen. The Attorney General does not set levels of fees for legal teams or representation serving any tribunal, inquiry or public investigation under the aegis of the State. He does, however, recommend levels of fees. This recommendation is subject to the sanction of fees by both the Department setting up, or represented before, the inquiry or public investigation out of whose Vote payment of such fees will be made and by the Department of Finance.
The level of fees for the Moriarty tribunal which comes under the aegis of my Department are: senior counsel €2,500 per diem; junior counsel, €2,000 per diem. Frank Clarke SC was paid the sum of £3,540 in 1999 for representing the public interest at the Moriarty tribunal. These fees were reviewed in May and June 2002 after a period of five years.
I have already outlined to the Deputy in my reply of 17 June the names of members appointed to, and the moneys paid to the legal teams of the Moriarty tribunal for which my Department has responsibility. I understand that the Deputy has received replies from all relevant Departments to the same question on that date.
Question No. 146 answered with Question No. 84.
