Departmental Legal Cases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026

• Díospóireachtaí
• Aimsigh díospóireacht
  • Díospóireachtaí na Dála
  • Díospóireachtaí an tSeanaid
  • Díospóireachtaí Coiste
• Aimsigh vótáil
  • Vótálacha na Dála
  • Vótálacha an tSeanaid
  • Vótálacha Coiste
• Ceisteanna Parlaiminte
  • Ceisteanna scríofa
  • Ceisteanna ó bhéal
• Leideanna cuardaigh
• Nuair a bhíonn tionchar tromchúiseach ag aithrisí

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Ceisteanna (1471, 1472, 1473, 1474, 1475, 1476, 1477)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1471. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2024/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1472. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2042/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1473. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2060/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1474. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [2078/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1475. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2096/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1476. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2114/26]

Grace Boland

Ceist:

1477. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [2132/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1471 to 1477, inclusive, together.

The Office of the Chief State Solicitor (CSSO) represents my Department at the Workplace Relations Commission and the Courts in relation to employment cases disputes. The CSSO is responsible for the payment of counsel if engaged to represent myself as Minister and my Department. Details of legal costs paid by the CSSO for cases where the CSSO is representing the Department are reported on in the appropriation account of the CSSO. While ordinarily the Department would be represented by the CSSO in any employment disputes, if the Department were to be represented by an external legal expert we would first need to seek sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to engage that company. Payment would be made directly by this Department to that company. My Department operates within the public procurement guidelines and maintains an environment of good corporate governance, ensuring an effective system of internal financial control as set out in its Corporate Governance Framework.

My Department does not fund legal costs for employees or former employees who litigate against the Department and has not done so in the past five years. There are no plans at present to fund such legal costs in employment dispute cases taken against my Department. Whether under order or agreement third party costs are paid by my Department only following approval of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in conjunction with the legal costs unit of the State Claims Agency.

While legal costs may be awarded against the Department should an employee, or former employee be successful in a claim against the Department, legal costs in litigation are governed by the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, the Rules of the Superior Courts and case law. My Department also takes account of the State Litigation Principles and seeks to minimise costs where possible.

With regard to the information requested in respect of Bodies under the aegis of my Department, these Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below.

State Body	Contact E-mail Address
An Coimisiún Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce	[e-mail]
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Construction Industry Register Ireland	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Electoral Commission	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Property Services Appeal Board	[e-mail]
Property Services Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Tailte Éireann	[e-mail]
Uisce Éireann	[e-mail]
Valuation Tribunal	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

Question No. 1472 answered with Question No. 1471.

Question No. 1473 answered with Question No. 1471.

Question No. 1474 answered with Question No. 1471.

Question No. 1475 answered with Question No. 1471.

Question No. 1476 answered with Question No. 1471.

Question No. 1477 answered with Question No. 1471.

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