Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the contribution private legal firms made in the preparation of the Pyrite Panel Report; the names of the firms and if any such firm had a conflict of interest having represented quarry owners, developers or contractors; and the amount they were paid for work on the Pyrite Panel Report. [38906/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In response to the very difficult situation faced by homeowners affected by pyrite, I established the Pyrite Panel in September 2011. The Panel undertook its work independently of me and submitted its report to me at the end of June 2011. The Panel engaged in a consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders and others who it considered had a particular expertise on the subject of pyrite and could make a useful contribution to its work. The Panel met with 44 individuals/groups and they are listed in appendix 1 of the report.

I understand that the Panel engaged the services of a firm of solicitors, Arthur Cox, to provide itself with independent legal advice on a number of issues on which it felt it needed legal clarity. The firm also read the Panel’s report prior to publication to ensure that the content of the report was legally sound. The firm was paid a total of €6,127. I understand that the procurement of the legal services was conducted in accordance with standard public procurement procedure. The potential for a conflict of interest was discussed with the legal firms who were asked to submit proposals for the work involved.