Written answers

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Departmental Legal Costs

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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383. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total legal costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [17352/14]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. Its remit includes oversight of very complex policy areas and direct procurement of major services where protection of the State’s interest must be paramount. This situation necessarily requires my Department to procure specialist external professional advice in legal areas to enable it to discharge its responsibility to deliver quality services and protect the interests of the State and the taxpayer. There have been eight occasions in total in 2011 and 2012 where my Department sought legal services, which arose because of the need for specialist legal expertise or because of legal challenges. There was no expenditure on legal fees by my Department in 2013. Total legal costs incurred to date in 2014 amounted to €9,225 and it is estimated that a further €12,000 will be paid on legal costs this year based on an out of Court settlement in 2013. The table below details the costs incurred.

In procuring specialised legal services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary.

Name of Legal Service ProviderCost in

2011 - €
Cost in 2012 - €Cost in 2014 - €Reason for Procurement
Arthur Cox Solicitors163,717.04Legal advice in respect of the Corrib Gas Pipeline & the Seven Heads Lease
Mason, Hayes and Curran62,530.3746,562.88Legal services related to the procurement process to appoint a postcode management licence holder.
Aisling Martin18,367.80Advice and legal representation before the Moriarty Tribunal
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan24,200.00Advice and legal representation before the Moriarty Tribunal
John L O’Donnell7,686.5333,396.00Advice and legal representation before the Moriarty Tribunal
Conleth Bradley28,943.2022,264.00Advice and legal representation before the Moriarty Tribunal
Elizabeth Gavin 28,510.80Engaged in relation to Moriarty Tribunal
Derry Hand1380.00Engaged in relation to Moriarty Tribunal
William Fry€9,225Professional Services rendered for Ireland Energy Efficiency Investments.
TOTAL335,335.74102,222.889,225-

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