Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Is the Taoiseach aware that among the functions of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor is the advising and representing of the State in asylum and refugee law cases and the conveyancing of State property and related property law services? In the context of the reorganisation, and given the increase in asylum and refugee cases in recent years, has that entailed an increased work load and have additional staff been recruited in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in order to cope? Are those staff working in the section required to be fully conversant with international human rights law and standards and Ireland's obligations under them?

Deputy Parlon, who has responsibility for decentralisation, is sitting beside the Taoiseach. In the context of the current decentralisation programme and the role of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor with regard to conveyancing, has that also encroached, because of the proposed relocation of Departments and entire sections of Departments, in terms of the time and work load of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor? Does the increased extensive legal work in conveyancing mean additional staff are already in situ or being recruited in order to meet that purpose?

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