Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected total legal costs to be incurred in his Department in 2012; his proposals to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44059/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The provision in the Department’s Vote for legal costs in 2012 is €3.536 million. Considering the wide range of activities and services that the Department is involved in, it is prudent management to make budgetary provision for such costs. The level of expenditure actually incurred under this heading in any one year is largely outside of the Department’s control. My Department endeavours to minimise costs by defending any actions brought against it. In addition, where the Department looses a case, the legal costs awarded against it are carefully assessed by the cost accountants in the Chief State Solicitors’ Office or sent for taxation before the taxing master.