Mr. Barry Donoghue:

Some of the 32 State solicitors are there for life. They were appointed in the time when the Attorney General was in charge of that and they have a lifetime contract. Where a position becomes available because somebody retires, there is a full competitive process, interviews with independent chair on the board and a selection process in the normal way. A decision is then made by the director to appoint the person selected by the board. That is the process for appointing a new State solicitor. In addition, some State solicitors have contracts for ten years.