Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

416. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to detail the procurement processes used when engaging external legal firms and barristers, including whether panels are used; how often these are refreshed; the criteria used for selection and performance review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41549/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department, when required, engages the services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in relation the provision of legal advice and representation in litigation.

Where officials of my Department engage external legal services these procurements are conducted in compliance with applicable procurement Regulations, national legislation and Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Circulars. It should also be noted that in accordance with S.I. No. 284 of 2016 European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations, procurement regulations do not apply to public service contracts for specified legal services.