Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about a different aspect of this. He may recall the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, recently explaining on a public television programme the collapse of Dáil business on three occasions this term. He linked it to a logjam in the drafting section of the Parliamentary Counsel's section of the Attorney General's office. He stated it takes seven years to train a parliamentary draftsman. It seems a long time but I believe it to be the case.

Is it true the number of entry level drafters has not increased since 2001? I understand substantial increases were made in the advice section of the Attorney General's office. Is it true three younger drafters left during the same period? The result is the gap is filled by contract drafters, often from other jurisdictions not always compatible with our common law heritage. This poses its own difficulties in terms of interpretation. Sometimes, major differences in interpretation and style have led to judges being able to make inferences.

Is it the case that foreign contract drafters are supervised by Irish drafters? Does the Taoiseach know what is the proportion of foreign contract drafters as compared to Irish entry-level drafters taken in directly by the Office of the Attorney General?

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