Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The recommendations of the Nally report regarding the re-organisation of the Chief State Solicitor's office have been largely implemented. Agreement with the unions involved was achieved during 2001. The criminal prosecution functions undertaken by the Chief State Solicitor's office were transferred to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions at the end of 2001.

A common promotion pool within the two offices, between the CSSO and the solicitors' division of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for professional solicitor and technical promotion posts formed part of the agreement and this now operates. A negotiating process with local State solicitors is currently under way seeking to agree on the transfer of the service to the DPP. A review of the current workload of local State solicitors and their expense base is almost completed. Enabling legislation and appropriate legislative provisions are contained in the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act 2005, which was signed by the President on 9 July 2005.

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