As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, I am the statutory respondent for certain types of legal challenge, for example, in respect of public sector pay and pensions or land which vests in the State pursuant to the State Property Act, 1954 (as amended). I am also named as a party to a large number of proceedings which seek damages from the State, without my Department being directly involved in the running of the litigation in circumstances where another Minister may take the leading role in respect of providing instructions on the issue. In that context, my Department does not have records of all cases naming the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and does not collate the information sought. Further, it is not appropriate to comment on any case which is sub-judice.
I can confirm that my Department applies the State Litigation Principles, as set out by the Attorney General, in litigation in which it is involved. Furthermore, litigation involving my Department is conducted by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and / or the State Claims Agency, as required, under the direction of the Office of the Attorney General where appropriate, all of which organisations apply these Principles to litigation in respect of which they are instructed.
