Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether sufficient progress is being made in reducing the State's legal bill in his Department and any State agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25164/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The main requirement for legal services in my Department is in the context of litigation, usually in the form of judicial review and personal injury proceedings. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the State Claims Agency manage and provide legal representation in relation to all cases taken against the Minister for Defence. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is responsible for the costs of the State’s legal teams in cases that it manages on behalf of the Department. External legal costs incurred by the State Claims Agency arising from the defence of any claims managed by the Agency for the Department are refunded to the Agency by the Department. In addition, the Department may pay plaintiffs legal costs as part of awards and settlements.

In cases where the State is considered liable or which involve an apportionment of liability as between the State and the claimant, I am informed that both the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the State Claims Agency’s approach is to settle such cases expeditiously in so far as it is possible and to do so on reasonable terms. In cases where liability is fully disputed by the State, all necessary resources are applied to defending such claims robustly. I should point out that many of the factors that determine the amount or timing of legal costs that fall for payment lie outside of the control of the Department. These include the timing of court hearings, the progress of cases, and the number, value and timing of awards and settlements.