Grace Boland

781. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether he has considered introducing guidelines or a centralised legal services framework to control escalating legal costs across the public service; if so, the timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40850/25]

782. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure that public bodies adhere to the public spending code when procuring legal services; how compliance is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40851/25]

786. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by his Department and agencies under its aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40885/25]

796. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if all external legal fees incurred by his Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41509/25]

797. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41527/25]

798. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation 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. [41545/25]

799. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has conducted any audits or reviews in the past five years on legal fee spend; if so, to publish the findings or summaries of those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41563/25]

800. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the internal oversight that exists within his Department to monitor the scope, duration, and cost escalation of legal services once engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41581/25]

801. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department makes use of capped fee arrangements, fixed-fee briefs, success-based fee models or other such arrangements in its legal engagements; if not, the reason such options are not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41599/25]

802. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41617/25]

862. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total spend by his Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if she will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40834/25]

863. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by his Department and agencies under its aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40878/25]

891. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if all external legal fees incurred by his Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41502/25]

892. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/25]

893. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 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. [41538/25]

894. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has conducted any audits or reviews in the past five years on legal fee spend; if so, to publish the findings or summaries of those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41556/25]

895. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the internal oversight that exists within his Department to monitor the scope, duration, and cost escalation of legal services once engaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41574/25]

896. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department makes use of capped fee arrangements, fixed-fee briefs, success-based fee models or other such arrangements in its legal engagements; if not, the reason such options are not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41592/25]

897. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41610/25]

902. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the work carried out by his Department to support the “Action Plan for Women in Business”, drawn up by Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41949/25]

903. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the work carried out by his Department to implement the “Action Plan for Women in Business”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41951/25]

924. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports in place to ensure that working mothers are not disproportionately penalised in terms of promotion and pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42550/25]

926. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment how the Government is preparing for the potential negative economic impact arising from US trade policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42593/25]

930. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the means by which the delivery of the “Balance for Better Business” initiative will be delivered; if there is a timeframe for the delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/25]

1001. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total spend by her Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if she will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40833/25]