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NAMA’S COSTS IN the recent High Court environmental information case totalled €71,350, while the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information incurred fees of €50,000, it has emerged this evening.
The figures came from the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, in the answer to a Parliamentary Question from Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty.
He asked the Minister for Finance:
further to the judgement in the High Court case between the National Asset Management Agency and the Office of the Commissioner for Environment Information, the total legal fees incurred by NAMA to date in the case; and the estimate of all legal costs including those of the OCEI.
Minister Noonan said he was advised by NAMA that costs totalling €71,350 have been incurred by them to date in respect of the case, while the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has advised him that the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information has informed him that the estimated fees incurred by them to date in respect of the case is €50,000.
Deputy Doherty said that the total cost is more than the total amount collected from all the Freedom of Information requests in 2011.
Deputy Doherty continued:
The case won by the Environment Commissioner last week against NAMA, which was initiated by Gavin Sheridan of thestory.ie, was an important victory for citizens. It proved that as a citizen, Gavin Sheridan had been entitled to information under ‘Information on the Environment Regulations’ which NAMA had attempted to deny him.
Doherty described access to information as “a citizen’s right” and said “this government along with the last has tried to censure that right”.
We can see that censuring in the fact that the NAMA spent over €71,000 fighting this case against another arm of the state, the Environment Commissioner. The Commissioner was forced to spend another €50,000 fighting the case, bringing the total cost to the taxpayer to over €121,000.
He continued that it is “imperative now that NAMA does not try to appeal this case, costing the state more money”.
I am also calling on the Government to look at moving towards a policy of open data for citizens, where information is provided as a transparency and accountability right, not a privilege.
Last Wednesday, the High Court dismissed an appeal by the State-owned ‘bad bank’ NAMA against a finding that it had a legal responsibility to deal with public requests for environmental information.
NAMA failed in its bid to overturn a finding by the Commissioner for Environmental Information, Emily O’Reilly, who had ruled in September 2011 that it was a ‘public authority’ as outlined in regulations on environmental information.
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The legal profession loves NAMA. In times of drying up legal work, NAMA is lovely earner.
The legal profession loves the Irish state. It puts millions and millions into it every year. It’s a disgrace especially when you see what we end up cutting to keep them in the big time.
Somebody should do a freedom of information request to find out the cost of prosecuting and incarcerating IRA prisoners over the last 10 years and ask Deputy Doherty to comment.
You are a such a strange person…
And wat has dissident prisoners got to do with this thread exactly??? Are u attempting to imply they connected to Sinn Fein in some way. When the dogs in the street know that the dissidents hate shinners.
Blueshirt policy is to deny access to information. To deny debate in the Dail.
To create advantage for their followers.
Their idealogical bedfellows, Adolf and Benito and Franco would be bursting with pride.
And Deputy Doherty’s party are the defenders of democracy, aren’t they.
This government has sat on the Supreme Court x case ruling and pulled a stroke on the IRCB bill to prevent a Supreme Court hearing on legality of prom. Notes. Do u call that democracy??
The judical system is a disgrace over all. The courts take too many sittings for a verdict hence bills tot up. The whole system is a scam. Ex barrister’s now judges keeping his or her ex colleagues minted.
Another score for Doherty. He is probably the best TD in the house at the minute, the people of Donegal are very lucky to have such an articulate man as their representative. If Sinn Fein did ever come to power I would love to see him lead this country.
I have never voted for SF or would I consider myself a supporter.
doherty just looks good because so many of the rest of the Dail are talentless inarticulate gombeens.
For all the online moaning, very few people of talent ever put themselves forward for election. Shame.
Never before in history, have so many “village idiots” ascended to such great positions of power. May God help us all!!
Unacceptable… Teflon , golden spoon.call it what you will…. shameful! This system has gone to the dogs… while everybody fends and counts the pennies they have left after monthly espenses… the system keeps spending!!! I
Real example of the red tape around every thing that goes on in are country and the sponges soak’in up the cash
I’m not for violence at all, but it pains me when I hear inverted snobbery directed at Sinn Fein. Let’s put that behind us. You only have to look at what has been happening in the north in recent months to get a hint of an idea of what the origins if the party had to contend with… but I do not defend their past actions!
Let’s look at the thousands in this state who have had their lives stunted through an unfairly high cost of living, lack of proper public services and ridiculous lack of accountability. How many of us have lost parents at a younger age than their European counterparts due to tough life an appalling health system??
Millions are wasted here through governance based on crisis management which is common practice in my opinion and experience.
I welcome the courts decision.. And Emily O Reilly, you’re a shining light in a dark place, far from European standards… The courts here are dragging their heels but sooner or later they have to comply with European law.. They’re doing it far too slowly and at the great expense of the general public. Who can afford to challenge the government or third party if they aren’t getting their entitlements under EU law??
And yes! We have entitlements as we all pay extraordinarily high taxes on everything! We’re paying tax every time we buy a loaf of bread!
Well said
Bunch of bloody eejits.
this economic crash and bank guarantee has been a truly wonderful era for the law firms.
hundreds of millions of public money is flowing like a river into the pockets of the partners.
nice to know it is not all doom and gloom out there.
Man oh man… I abhor Sinn Féin but I resect, nay, admire their brain power!
Repost since it got taken down . Example of due process in the Irish courts
Repost since it got taken down . Here is an example of ” due process” in the Irish Courts . Look at this lunatic judge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9T7N5PkBrY&sns=em
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