Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

58. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 80 of 19 January 2017, the way in which his Department would have been impacted upon; the costs associated with the legal advice his Department received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10042/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While the legal action referred to in parliamentary question number 80 of 19 January 2017 was against the bank referred to in the same question and not against the Department of Finance, pleadings in this case, which were delivered by the Bank, were considered by officials in my Department and by the Attorney General's office. 

It was also important for officials in my Department to be kept informed of developments in this case given that the bank referred to in parliamentary question number 80 of 19 January 2017 had been nationalised prior to the commencement of the legal action referred to in the same question.

A negative outcome for the Bank referred to in parliamentary question number 80 of 19 January 2017 in this case would have been, by association, a negative outcome for the State given that the Bank referred to had already been nationalised.

The legal costs incurred by my Department relating to this action are included in the schedule of consultancy and other costs (including legal costs) for this period which is available on the Department of Finance website (www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/14-04-07%20Copy%20of%20Consultancy%20Schedule%20for%20website.pdf).  However, the specific breakdown of the costs incurred by the Department of Finance in relation to this matter are confidential.