Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by him, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45315/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for the Department where necessary in relation to personal injuries claims and other matters. As fees for counsel and solicitors form one part of the overall legal and settlement costs (which are often billed together), I regret that in the time available it is not possible to obtain from individual files details of amounts accruing in respect of barristers’ and solicitors’ fees and the names of the firms involved.

Legal advice on contractual and other matters arising from time to time is initially sought from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and/or the Office of the Attorney General, and the use of external legal advisors for such requirements is kept to a minimum.