Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on legal fees by him in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45627/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not directly 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 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 specialised expertise is not available within my Department and cannot be accessed from the AG or CSSO, for example in regard to advice relating to the lease or purchase of Embassy properties abroad. I have provided details in the table below on the amounts spent on external legal services fees by my Department in Ireland and overseas.