Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the annual expenditure on external legal costs by his Department in each of the past five years; the annual expenditure on external legal costs by each of the agencies under his aegis in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17842/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not pay for the legal services provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor's Office or for advice from Counsel briefed by them. My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal experts reduces the costs which would be incurred if the Department was to engage externally for similar services.

Nevertheless, there are from time to time occasions where a need to engage external legal services arises, where the necessary expertise is not available within my Department, for example in regard to particular procurement matters or advice relating to the lease or purchase of Embassy properties abroad.

I have provided detail below, in tabular form, on the costs for external legal services.