Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 47: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money paid out by his Department in legal fees; the details of the firms paid the greatest amount of fees; the amount of money paid out in legal settlements; the number of such settlements; the number of claims against his Department for the most recent 12-month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24052/04]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €3,043,973 has been spent by my Department on legal fees in the 12 month period from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004. This total is made up of legal fees in respect of the legal team of the Moriarty tribunal, €2,603,085, and the independent commission of inquiry, €440,887. No other payments have been made in respect of legal fees.

An amount of €14,049 has been paid in a legal settlement in this period. There was one settlement in the period. A further payment of €8,870 will be paid shortly in respect of this claim. The total cost of the legal settlement, including costs, is €22,916.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of money paid out by his Department in public relations fees; the name of the firm that was paid the highest amount; the amount paid to a firm (details supplied); the amount of money paid out by his Department in other consultancy fees; the name of the firm or person paid the highest amount for the most recent 12-month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24053/04]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €150,473 has been spent by my Department on public relations fees in the 12-month period from 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004. Fleischman Hilliard Saunders, who are retained by the Information Society Commission to provide PR services, received the highest amount. There were no payments made to the company named by the Deputy. In the same period, a total of €353,396 was spent on other consultancy fees. Red Dog Design, which provided consultancy services in connection with Ireland's Presidency of the EU, received the highest amount.