McGlone: £54 million on legal fees ‘staggering’

SDLP deputy leader, Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said it is staggering that the Executive departments have spent £54 million on external legal fees over the last five years, with the Health Department accounting for nearly half the bill.

Mr McGlone acquired the figures by putting Assembly questions to all the ministers. He said: "Everyone recognises that there are occasions when legal advice is required, but what has struck me is the dramatic increase in spending on legal fees after devolution – why are our ministers and departments so quick off the mark to contact solicitors?

"I am a member of the Public Accounts Committee and I think we need to examine this issue. I will be seeking advice on tendering and employment of lawyers to make sure we are getting value for the public’s money when we are spending such huge sums while people are under such financial pressure. I have also forwarded the figures to the Audit Office which is already looking at procurement practices."

Assembly Question tabled by SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone:

Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much his Department and its agencies paid for legal services in each of the last five years; and to detail the firms engaged. (AQW 1501/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The table below shows expenditure on legal services for the Core Department and its Executive Agencies over the last five years. Expenditure in each year varies as it is dependent on the legal advice that is required.

Firms engaged in 2009/10 are shown below. Due to changes in financial systems, it is not possible to readily extract details of firms engaged prior to 2009/10 from the legacy financial systems. Therefore this information cannot be provided due to the disproportionate cost.

Firms engaged in 2009/10
BOYD RICE & CO
CROWN SOLICITORS OFFICE
DEPARTMENTAL SOLICITORS OFFICE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
DOHERTY DESMOND J SOLICITORS
E & L KENNEDY SOLICITORS
FRANCIS ROBERT MR QC
HUNTER ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS
JAMES T JOHNSTON & CO SOLICITORS
JONES & CO
KROLL ONTRACK LEGAL TECHNOLOGIES
MCARDLE EAMONN
MCBRIDE DENISE
MCCARTAN TURKINGTON & BREEN SOLICITORS
O'DONOGHUE FRANK QC
O'HARA JOHN QC
PETERS & PETERS
REYNOLDS PORTER CHAMBERLAIN
STRATFORD JEMIMA MISS
WOLFE MARTIN
 

ENDS