€30m spent on banking advice
The figure was on top of a further €30m spent by the Department of Finance on legal, accountancy and other advice since the crisis took hold in 2008.
Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Rothschild are among firms that were paid multi-million euro sums by the state.
Since 2008, Merill Lynch was paid €7.33m and Rothschild €7m for “banking advisory services” to the finance minister.
Goldman Sachs was paid €6.29m for “advice on capital raising exercises” for banks.
Arthur Cox solicitors were paid €13.6m for advisory services; on top of the €7.74m the firm was paid by the National Treasury Management Agency; €2.18m from the National Treatment Purchase Fund and €27.55m from Nama.
The figures were given to Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath in response to a parliamentary question first tabled last October.
They show that: n€15,500 was paid to three different companies to advise on appropriate levels of pay for bankers.
* €1.58m was paid to PwC for due diligence exercises on Bank of Ireland and AIB.
* €2.18m was paid to Arthur Cox for legal due diligence.
Figures for the Central Bank show it spent €29.9m on consultancy fees in 2011, compared to €1.3m in 2010, €3.4m in 2009 and €3.8m in 2008.
A spokesperson said last year’s high costs were associated with the Financial Measures Programme which stress tested banks, assessed capital requirements and began winding down Anglo.
