Departmental Legal Cases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026

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Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Questions (388, 389, 390, 392, 393)

Grace Boland

Question:

388. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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 the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/26]

Grace Boland

Question:

389. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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. [2033/26]

Grace Boland

Question:

390. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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. [2051/26]

Grace Boland

Question:

392. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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. [2087/26]

Grace Boland

Question:

393. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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. [2105/26]

Written answers

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 to 390, inclusive, 392 and 393 together.

There have not been any instances of my Department funding an employee's legal costs in the manner described in the past 5 years. Furthermore, I am not aware of circumstances which would warrant or require such funding.

The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency and as such the Deputy may wish to contact those agencies directly. Contact details are set out at the following link for ease of reference.

DCEE Agencies Oireachtas emails

Question No. 389 answered with Question No. 388.

Question No. 390 answered with Question No. 388.

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