Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
126 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on legal advice and lawyers in each of past three years; and the amount paid out in settlement of legal proceedings against his Department, including cases settled prior to coming to court in each of the past three years, omitting expenses relating to tribunals of inquiry. [5469/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Settlement |
Legal Fees |
Total |
|
2001 |
18,801.14 |
59,883.67 |
78,684.81 |
|
2002 |
27,934.76 |
101,031.79 |
128,966.55 |
|
2003 |
0.00 |
102,309.64 |
102,309.64 |
127 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the anticipated increases in phone costs to his Department after recent phone rental price rises. [5496/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe telephone services for the offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin and in Cork are provided by Éircom where the Department avails of a reduced tariff scheme provided for in the Government private network agreement with Éircom. The anticipated increase in phone costs for the Department follows the recent rental price rise and are expected to be in the region of €6,000 per annum.
The Department continually monitors the cost of telecommunications and examines, on an ongoing basis, the means to bring about savings in this regard. It should be noted that Éircom is one of the major sponsors of the Irish Presidency and, in this capacity, is providing telecommunications services to the State for the Presidency to the estimated value of some €2 million to 2.5 million.
