Departmental Legal Cases

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Ceisteanna (287, 288, 289, 291, 292)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

287. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [2021/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

288. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis on which her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [2039/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

289. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against her Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2057/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

291. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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 her Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2093/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

292. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [2111/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 to 289, inclusive, 291 and 292 together.

With regarding to the funding of legal costs for civil servants employed by the Department in employment disputes involving the Department, it is not the practice of my Department to fund these costs. I can confirm that there are no current plans to review this practice. My Department has no agencies or bodies under its aegis.

In line with the above, the Department has not funded the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by a civil servant or former civil servant against this Department, in each of the past five years.