Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014
71. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the cost, to date, to the State of defending the promissory note challenge by Deputy Joan Collins in the High Court. [11614/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the cost, to date, to the State of defending the promissory note challenge by Mr. David Hall in the High Court. [11615/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
The Office of the Chief State Solicitor represented the Minister for Finance in the proceedings Joan Collins V Minister for Finance, Ireland and the Attorney General. Consequently there were no external solicitor costs associated with these proceedings. Fees incurred by the State to date in these proceedings, which relate to counsels' fees and expert witness costs, total €251,985.49. As the Deputy may be aware, an order for 75% of the costs of the proceedings was awarded in favour of the plaintiff, however, these costs have not yet been quantified. It is therefore too early to establish what the overall cost to the State in defending the proceedings will be.
Similarly, in the case of the David Hall proceedings the Office of the Chief State Solicitor also represented the Minister for Finance and counsels' fees incurred in those proceedings totalled €111,938.26. As these proceedings have been appealed to the Supreme Court the High Court orders for costs have been stayed. It is therefore too early to establish what the overall cost to the State in defending the proceedings will be. Given the findings of the High Court it is clear that the State has been entirely vindicated in its decision to defend both sets of proceedings.
