Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Defence the firms of solicitors or individual barristers which he has engaged on a contractual basis in the past 18 months; the purpose of that engagement; the fees already paid or an estimate of the fees expected to be paid by the conclusion of the tasks they were engaged for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19167/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department engaged the services of McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors on 20 April 2007 to provide legal drafting, research and advice services specifically in relation to the drafting of new Rules of Procedure and Court-Martial Rules, following on from the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2007. A total of €43,741.50, including VAT, was paid to McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors on 12 March 2008 in respect of work completed since 20 April 2007. A further sum in the region of €16,200, including VAT, will be paid when work on the drafting of the new Rules of Procedure and Court-Martial Rules is completed.

The Chief State Solicitor's Office/Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency provide legal services on civil claims. These bodies engage the necessary barristers (and/or firms of solicitors in the case of the State Claims Agency).