The legal firm Arthur Cox has received more than €16 million from Government departments and State bodies since 2011, according to newly released figures.
The bulk of the payments related to work carried out in the financial area for the State. However, the total amount is likely to be higher as not all State agencies have yet replied to a series of parliamentary questions tabled by Fianna Fáil.
Arthur Cox has come under fire in recent weeks for representing tobacco giant Japan Tobacco in a threatened court action against the State aimed at blocking the Government's plans to force the industry to introduce plain packaging.
Last month, Minister for Children James Reilly said he was seeking a review of arrangements between Arthur Cox and Tusla, the child and family agency, over the firm's involvement in the threatened court action.
The corporate element of Arthur Cox’s work for Tusla is worth €800,000 a year, including VAT, and the company manages some €12 million in annual legal expenditure for Tusla through a network of 31 local solicitors.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said he thought it " would reflect well on Arthur Cox if they didn't represent tobacco companies".
The Irish Cancer Society said it would no longer accept any corporate donations from Arthur Cox arising from the controversy over it representing Japan Tobacco.
Arthur Cox has not commented on the issue to date.
Answers to the parliamentary questions tabled by Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher show that, between 2011 and 2014, the Department of Finance paid fees of more than €6.8 million to Arthur Cox.
The National Asset Management Agency (Nama) paid fees of €5.318 million between 2011 and 2014.
The parliamentary answer set out by the department said that just over £900,000 was paid to Arthur Cox (Northern Ireland) by Nama.
The parliamentary answer said that while the Central Bank for confidentiality reasons did not disclose exact payment details, it paid out between €3 million and €5 million.
The Revenue Commissioners paid out just over €191,000 to the firm between 2011 and 2014.
The Department of Justice said the legal firm had received over €421,000 for work carried out for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission over the period, with the bulk of payments made last year when the body was involved in a number of controversies.
Dr Reilly said the Department of Children had not engaged the legal firm from 2011 to 2014. Full figures in relation to agencies that operated under the department’s auspices such as Tusla were not yet available.
Figures for fees paid by the Health Service Executive were also not yet available, while the Department of Health said payments of just under €100,000 were made to Arthur Cox between 2011 and 2014. It said these were in relation to third- party legal fees.
The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government said Arthur Cox received just under €270,000 over the period, primarily in connection with its role in relation to foreshore licensing.
It said the amount set out in the parliamentary answer did not include any legal fees associated with the planning tribunal.
