Court challenges cost State €360k

The State’s legal spend to date in the two unsuccessful “promissory note” High Court challenges brought against it totals over €360,000.

According to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, the costs of employing counsel and expert witnesses totals €251,985 in the case concerning United Left TD Joan Collins challenging his decision to issue promissory notes in favour of Anglo Irish Bank and the EBS.

In a written Dáil response to Stephen Donnelly TD, Mr Noonan said there are no external solicitor costs associated with the action as the office of the chief state solicitor represented the minister in the proceedings.

In his reply, Mr Noonan said: “As the Deputy may be aware, an order for 75% of the costs of the proceedings was awarded in favour of the plaintiff, however, these costs have not yet been quantified. It is, therefore, too early to establish what the overall cost to the State in defending the proceedings will be.

Businessman David Hall took a separate case relating to promissory note bailout of Anglo Irish Bank and the EBS.

Mr Noonan said “Similarly, in the case of the David Hall proceedings the Office of the Chief State Solicitor also represented the minister for finance and counsels’ fees incurred in those proceedings totalled €111,938.”