Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 317: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate the numbers, if any, of in or out of court settlements made by his Department directly or by bodies directly or indirectly under his aegis for whatever reason in the past ten years to date; the extent, if any, to which a confidentiality clause was attached in any such agreements; if known, the cost or likely cost to the Exchequer arising therefrom, and under what particular heading any such charge might have been applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011 and, accordingly, provision of the information sought by the Deputy for extended periods prior to that date would not be feasible. I am advised that my Department has, since 2 June 2011, paid compensation in one case. This related to a commercial turf-cutting case, where payment of €154,855 was made in an out-of-court settlement on 28 July 2011. The payment was made from my Department's Vote and there was no confidentiality agreement associated with this settlement.

With regard to bodies within my Department's ambit, the Deputy will appreciate that such matters are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy's Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.