Written Answers Nos. 1-8
2. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; the costs incurred by his Department in relation to such cases. [41724/24]
View answerThree legal cases were taken against the Department of the Taoiseach during the period in question. All three cases were individual claims taken against the Department and all were concluded involving a small settlement and associated legal and ancillary costs. The costs for the three cases spread over four years are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2014 |
€22,909.30 |
|
2015 |
€3,650.12 |
|
2016 |
€1,630.35 |
|
2017 |
€502.05 |
|
2018 |
Nil |
|
2019 |
Nil |
|
2020 |
Nil |
|
2021 |
Nil |
|
2022 |
Nil |
|
2023 |
Nil |
|
2024 to date |
Nil |
3. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of data breaches experienced by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown will be provided on the nature of the breaches. [41742/24]
View answerPlease see the accompanying table setting out two instances of a data breach identified within the Department during the past decade with one occurring in 2016 (pre GDPR) and one in 2022.
The case in 2016 arose on foot of a complaint by an individual made to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in 2017. The complaint concerned an allegation that a breach had occurred by way of the unauthorised disclosure of personal information by the Department in correspondence to two other public bodies. The complainant declined the offer of an amicable resolution, including an apology, and so the DPC issued a formal decision in 2020.
The incident in 2022 resulted from a misdirected email (due to a small typographic error in the address) which attached correspondence relating to an individual which also contained personal data. Given the nature of the personal data and the likelihood that the recipient account was dormant, the risk of harm to the individual’s rights and freedoms was therefore assessed to be low. Nevertheless, the Department reported the incident to the DPC as soon as the error was discovered. The individual (data subject) was also notified and apologised to.
|
YEAR |
Department of the Taoiseach No. of Personal Data Breaches |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2016 |
1 |
|
2017 |
0 |
|
2018 |
0 |
|
2019 |
0 |
|
2020 |
0 |
|
2021 |
0 |
|
2022 |
1 |
|
2023 |
0 |
|
2024 to date |
0 |
4. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total costs associated for his Department in relation to trips abroad taken by Ministers in his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2024. [41760/24]
View answerThe below table sets out foreign travel expenditure incurred in respect of within the Department of the Taoiseach and staff assigned to their Private Office, over the past five years.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Government Chief Whip |
€0 |
€768 |
€5,809.69 |
€10,321.74 |
€755.72 |
|
Minister of State - European Affairs |
€3,656.95 |
€17,963.05 |
€31,704.76 |
€13,704.76 |
€15,218.91 |
|
Total |
€3,656.95 |
€18,731.85 |
€37,324.64 |
€24,026.50 |
€15,974.63 |
The Department of the Taoiseach recoup travel expenses that are incurred which relate to Minister of State's responsibilities in other Departments. Recoupment is currently in process for 2024.
5. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on public relations in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41779/24]
View answerThe historical information requested by the Deputy, covering the years 2015 - 2023 has been set out in previous replies, the most recent of which was provided to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 5375/24 on 7 February 2024.
The below table outlines the amount spent by the Department of the Taoiseach on public relations to date this year.
|
Company Name |
Subject Matter |
2024 Expenditure |
|
Q4 Public Relations Ltd. |
Support and advice in the development of effective public communication and engagement strategies [May - December 2023] |
€11,277.26 |
|
Q4 Public Relations Ltd. |
Media liaison and communication services for Citizens' Assemblies* |
€8,971.31 |
*While funded from the Department of the Taoiseach’s Vote, Citizens’ Assemblies operate independently.
6. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41797/24]
View answerThe table below details the amount spent by the Department of the Taoiseach on consultancy over the past ten years up to end September 2024.
|
Year |
Company |
Details |
Amount |
|
2015 |
RA Consulting |
Design & Implementation of a Staff Consultation Initiative |
€9,298.80 |
7. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41815/24]
View answerThe table below details expenditure by the Department of the Taoiseach on advertising from 2015 to September 2024.
As set out below, most advertising expenditure occurred in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and relates to public information campaigns during COVID-19, which played a vital role in communicating the various strands of the pandemic including the supports made available by Government.
|
Year |
Amount spent on Advertising |
|
2015 |
€53,666 |
|
2016 |
€21,815 |
|
2017 |
€40,616 |
|
2018 |
€1,895,673 |
|
2019 |
€33,659 |
|
2020 |
€17,045,754 |
|
2021 |
€11,601,472 |
|
2022 |
€1,798,829 |
|
2023 |
€4,808 |
|
2024 (up to end September) |
€14,138 |
8. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total cost associated with each Commission of Investigation under the remit of his Department in the past twenty years. [41854/24]
View answerThe details requested in relation to the Commissions of Investigation for which the Taoiseach is the specified Minister are set out in the table beneath.
|
Name of Commission of Investigation |
Cost to date from time of Establishment |
|
Dublin and Monaghan Bombings |
€2,632,702 |
|
Certain Matters Relative to An Garda Síochána |
€3,528,658 |
|
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) |
€17,940,305 |
|
National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) |
€7,295,611 |
It should be noted that the Commissions of Investigation on the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings and ii) Certain Matters relative to An Garda Síochána were dissolved upon submission of their final reports in 2007 and 2017 respectively and it is not envisaged that any further costs will arise in relation to them.
It should also be noted that the Commission of Investigation on the IBRC was dissolved upon submission of its final report in May 2023. While the final cost of the Commission is currently being finalised, I expect it will be in the region of €18.5 million, including the cost of third party legal costs claims that were directed for payment by the Commission in respect of witnesses who appeared before it, a small number of which are still being processed. This figure does not include the cost of any further legal challenges that might arise.
It should also be noted that the cost of the NAMA Commission mentioned above excludes third party legal costs incurred but not yet paid and which will be considered by the Commission at the end of its investigation.
