My Department did not engage the services of McCann Fitzgerald in the period 2011 to 2014. The amount paid to Arthur Cox solicitors by my Department and its offices for the years 2011 to end 2014 is as follows:
January – December 2011
Amount paid €
|
Dates of contract (if applicable)
|
135,288.00
|
13th September 2010 - 12th September 2011
|
January – December 2012
Amount paid €
|
Dates of contract (if applicable)
|
43,188.00
|
13th September 2011 - 10th May 2012
|
3,188.86
|
Not applicable
|
January – December 2013
Amount paid €
|
Dates of contract (if applicable)
|
5,712.00
|
Not applicable
|
January – December 2014
Amount paid €
|
Dates of contract (if applicable)
|
14,823.00
|
Not applicable
|
In 2014 Forfás, prior to its dissolution and in advance of its integration into my Department on 1 August, used the services of McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors, as follows:-
Amount paid €
|
Dates of contract (if applicable)
|
12,032.40
|
Not applicable
|
My Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and has adopted a number of measures to achieve this. The Department/Offices avail of the services of the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Attorney General’s Office in terms of the provision of legal advice and in terms of representation of the Department/Offices in Court cases.
Payment for contracts to Arthur Cox solicitors and McCann Fitzgerald solicitors is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned, for which I have no direct function.
I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any legal fees paid to these two firms for the years 2011 - 2014, and I will communicate this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.