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One of the Executive policies for tackling the economic down turn is meant to be speeding up any payments from government to contractors. But maybe this doesn't apply to the legal sphere.

Mystery still surrounds the cost of QC Paul Maguire's advice over allegations the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Spotlight programme raised regarding Peter Robinson back in January. A Freedom of Information request covering the advice, the lawyer's fees and whether the taxpayer footed the bill was refused recently by the Department of Finance and Personnel on the grounds of legal privilege.

But within 24 hours, the department admitted "an oversight" in responding to part of the FoI request. It said the fee figure could be disclosed - it was not privileged - but "no fee note has been received from Counsel as yet."

Minister Sammy Wilson told the Assembly in March the bill for Mr Maguire's services had not been received. Two months later it seems he's still waiting.

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