Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has sought and received legal advice outside of the Office of the Attorney General; the number of times advice was sought per year in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the costs of outside legal advice per year in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34982/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In general, my Department uses the services of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for legal advice. However, it also uses outside legal advisors in circumstances requiring legal services of a specific nature. The costs associated with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor are borne by their respective Votes. The following table sets out the information sought by the Deputy in relation to legal advice outside of the Office of the Attorney General paid by my Department for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013.