Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1339. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has satisfied himself that this expenditure was a proper and appropriate use of taxpayer's money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1340. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has taken all reasonable steps to limit this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19874/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1341. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has satisfied himself with the conduct of all persons directly or indirectly employed by his Department, Sport Ireland and its predecessors in connection with this matter. [19875/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1342. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has satisfied himself with the conduct of all professional advisers who acted for Sport Ireland and its predecessors CSID and NSCDA in relation to the advice given and actions taken in the matter which led to this litigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19876/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1343. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has satisfied himself that using over €80,000 of taxpayer’s money in a failed attempt to defeat FOI requests was an appropriate and proper use of taxpayer’s money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19877/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1344. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, his Department has always dictated the overall case strategy in relation to the manner in which FOI requests were handled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19878/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1345. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, the identity and grade of the persons in his Department who have dictated the overall case strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19879/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1346. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if his Department has rejected proposals that would have limited or reduced this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19880/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if his Department has undertaken a risk assessment into the merits of defending the current litigation with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19881/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1348. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if his Department received a quotation of likely legal expenditure from solicitors (details supplied) for this case preparation and presentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19882/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1349. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he has satisfied himself that it is appropriate for him to retain the same firm for both the 2005 and 2016 proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19883/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1350. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, the rates that are being paid for each grade of solicitor and barrister in this case in view of the significant amount of taxpayer’s money being committed to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19884/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1351. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 21 March 2017, if he will provide an itemised account of legal expenditure on the case to date, for pre-court case advice, court attendances, post-case costs and counsel fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19885/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1339 to 1351, inclusive, together.
I am satisfied that expenditure on legal fees is a proper and appropriate use of taxpayers' money by Sport Ireland in situations where it considers that legal advice is required. It is a matter for Sport Ireland to satisfy itself in relation to the procurement of such advice and the rates payable. I am not aware of any formal proposals to limit expenditure on legal fees in any of the areas mentioned by Sport Ireland in its response to the Deputy's question of 21 March 2017.
Sport Ireland is a public body for the purposes of the FOI Acts and decisions in relation to FOI requests made to Sport Ireland are entirely a matter for Sport Ireland, in accordance with the provisions of the FOI Acts. My Department has no role in such decisions and does not direct Sport Ireland or dictate any strategy as to how it processes FOI requests.
Sport Ireland is the defendant in the legal case mentioned by the Deputy. I am not a party to the case. As the case is currently before the Courts, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment on the case itself or on any action taken in relation to it. While all related material would be subject to legal privilege, I can inform the Deputy that there has been engagement between the Department and the Office of the Attorney General and also with Sport Ireland and its legal advisers in relation to the case.
While I have been kept informed by Sport Ireland in relation to legal fees payable by it to its legal advisers in the case, matters relating to the procurement of the legal advisers, including quotations and rates payable are a matter for Sport Ireland. I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to the procurement of legal advisers, the rates payable and an itemised account of costs to date. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
