Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
114 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money paid out by his Department in public relations fees; the name of the firm that was paid the highest amount; the amount paid to a specific firm (details supplied); the amount of money paid out by the Department in other consultancy fees; the name of the firm or individual paid the highest amount for the most recent 12 month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23867/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the amount spent by my Department in 2003, and from 1 January to 30 September 2004, on public relations and other consultancy fees.
|
2003 |
1 January to 30 September 2004 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Public relations fees |
0 |
0 |
|
Other consultancy fees |
1,994,884 |
582,942 |
The highest amount paid in other consultancy fees was €818,609 to Software Resources Ltd in 2003 and €158,949 to Codec Ltd to 30 September 2004. An amount of €94,941.59 was paid to the company named by the Deputy in 2003. No payment has been made to that company in 2004. In the most recent 12 month period, that is from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004, the highest amount of other consultancy fees was €158,949 paid to Codec Ltd.
The figures above do not include the NDP/CSF unit, which operates under the aegis of my Department and had spending of the types mentioned by the Deputy. In its case a breakdown of spending is only available by project. A list of NDP/CSF projects was included in the answer to Dáil Question No. 235 of 17 February 2004, a copy of which is being forwarded to the Deputy. An update of this list is currently in preparation and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is completed.
115 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of money paid out by his Department in legal fees; the details of the firms paid the greatest amount of fees; the total amount of money paid out in legal settlements; the number of such settlements; the total number of claims against his Department, for the most recent 12 month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23881/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, my Department uses the services of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, and engages outside legal advisors in circumstances requiring legal advice of a specific and/or specialist nature. My Department has also had secondments to it from private sector legal firms.
The table below shows the amount spent by my Department in 2003, and from 1 January to 30 September 2004, on legal advice and lawyers, including secondments, and on settlement of legal proceedings including cases settled prior to going to court. It also shows the number of claims received and the number of settlements made.
|
2003 |
1 January to 30 September 2004 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Legal Advice |
240,880 |
188,565 |
|
Settlements |
322,865 |
7,500 |
|
Number of claims received |
0 |
0 |
|
Number of settlements |
54 |
1 |
Officials in my Department negotiated a settlement, arrived at late in 2003, of a large number of equality claims against all Departments lodged by the Civil and Public Services Union which involved a total cost of approximately €36 million. My Department's element of that settlement is included in the figures above for settlements in 2003. The greatest amount paid in fees was €54,450 to McCann Fitzgerald/Raymond Burke Consulting in 2003 and €90,000 to DarachConolly, Solicitors in 2004. The second greatest amounts paid were €49,728 to P. J. O'Driscoll, Solicitors in 2003 and €79,631 to A & L Goodbody, Solicitors in 2004. No claims against my Department were received for the most recent twelve month period, that is from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.
