Written answers
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Legal Costs
5:00 pm
Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the fact that the Defence Forces paid â¬15.3 million in compensation claims for injury and illness during the period 2003 to 2007 while the legal fees amounted to â¬10.5 million; if he will have a full audit carried out of these legal fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13542/08]
Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Costs paid in any particular year do not necessarily relate to the cases for which compensation has been paid in that year. This is because there is a time lag in submitting and agreeing costs in any particular case.
Compensation claims are dealt with on behalf of the Department either by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor or by the State Claims Agency as appropriate. I am fully satisfied that there are systems in place in the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the State Claims Agency to address all related claims for legal costs before they are agreed between parties. In cases where agreement between the parties is not reached, costs are submitted to the Taxing Master for adjudication. I do not therefore intend to have an audit carried out on legal fees paid by my Department in relation to compensation claims.
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