Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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866. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 356 of 2 November 2016, the amount spent on external legal advice in each of the years from 2013 to 2015; the names of the legal firms that provided advice to his Department in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47060/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department is aware of the need to minimise costs and in general, avails of legal services and advice from the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. My Department has a Legal Unit, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such "in-house" legal experts reduces the costs which would be incurred if the Department was to engage externally for similar services. However, occasionally specialised legal services are required. Data requested are expressed in the following table.