Five lawyers get €250k each for representing the State

Five lawyers each received fees in excess of €250,000, last year, through their work for the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO).

Barristers acting in the civil courts on behalf of government departments and other state authorities were paid €10.2m in 2011.

Last year’s payout represents a 42% reduction in fees since 2008, when €17.7m was paid out.

The figures for last year show Emily Farrell received €408,868 (including Vat) in fees, while Robert Barron got €222,942 representing the justice minister in the successful Supreme Court appeal by Ian Bailey against his extradition to France in connection with the 1996 murder of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier.

David Keane, who received €192,711 last year, represented RTÉ in the Fr Kevin Reynolds defamation case.

In a Dáil response to Cork North Central TD Jonathan O’Brien, the Taoiseach said: “Management of the expenditure in relation to counsel fees from 2008 out-turn to 2011 out-turn has seen a reduction in spend of 42%.”

The figures show six of the 10 top earners last year also appeared in the top 10 earners in 2010, when €12.3m was paid in fees.

In 2009, barristers received €16.1m.

Over the past five years, the figures showed barristers received €71.6m from the CSSO for Government work.

According to a statement from the CSSO: “In 2011, the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office put arrangements in place to increase the number of junior and senior counsel briefed by the State.

“These arrangements are designed to ensure an equitable distribution of state work to counsel and to avoid situations where a small number of counsel earn very large sums from the state. The arrangements are being monitored on a monthly basis by the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor.”

A portion of the work by the counsel involves representing Ireland before the European Court of Justice.

However, while there was a drop in counsel fees by the CSSO last year, separate figures provided by Mr Kenny show that payments by the CSSO under the Attorney General’s scheme rose 55% from €2.62m to €4m. The Attorney General’s scheme facilitates access for individuals to the courts in certain cases where access may be inhibited due to lack of means.

Meanwhile, Eileen Creedon was appointed Chief State Solicitor in January.

In his response to the Sinn Féin TD, Enda Kenny said the salary for the Chief State Solicitor dropped to €197,361 after a voluntary pay cut of €22,931 in 2009.