Questions

253. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of the number of legal actions against his Department that have been resolved without going to court in line with the 2023 State Litigation Principles; if his Department is fully applying the State Litigation Principles in seeking to resolve any current or outstanding legal actions; and if …

2616. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of th…

2617. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2040/26]

2618. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2058/26]

2619. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if…

2620. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2094/26]

2621. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2112/26]

2622. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

1175. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions involving his Department and/or agencies within the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63622/25]

1417. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the involvement he or his Department had in reaching a settlement with the former director of an agency (details supplied); the cost to the Exchequer, inclusive of the settlement, legal fees and other costs associated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48530/25]

3319. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [40881/25]

3338. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [41505/25]

3341. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [41559/25]

3343. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [41595/25]

3344. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [41613/25]