Legal Matters

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Ceisteanna (187)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

187. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by him, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45308/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011. I am advised that from that date no legal advices of the nature referred to were obtained by my Department. I should say my Department is aware of the need to minimise such costs and, in general, avails of legal advices from the Attorney General's Office and the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the Deputy will appreciate that the seeking of such legal advices is part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy’s Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.