Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The matter is receiving attention in my Department. My officials are broadly supportive of this. As it is a resource issue, my officials are dealing with it with the Department of Finance and the DPP. There are no staff dealing with legal policy in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This has proved to be an enormous drawback, as the director pointed out.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform frequently refers issues to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for its observations, as do others. The DPP finds it difficult to deal with these referrals because of the increasing amount of legal work unrelated to specific prosecution files work and without having a dedicated staff. The director considers that the formulation of an internal office prosecution policy is not being given sufficient priority because of the absence of a dedicated unit. He has also stated that such a unit would also support the director on general legal policy positions to be adopted in arguments before the courts, particularly in the appellate courts. The interaction between the prosecution service and victims of crime raises issues of policy which such a unit could address.

In his discussions with my Department, the DPP has stated that such a unit would be required to deal with the legal policy relating to prosecutions and matters such as proposed legislation and proposals emanating from the EU and other international bodies, such as the OECD, GRECO, the EU anti-corruption agency, and OLAF, the EU anti-fraud agency. The DPP's office finds it difficult to deal with the increasing amount of legal work unrelated to these issues. The director also considers the formulation of internal office prosecutions has not been given sufficient priority. He stated that this is a vital area where a unit could stand back from the day-to-day prosecution work to examine policy initiatives and give advice when requested. He also stated that GRECO and OLAF regularly seek his direction. His office needs a dedicated unit to deal with these initiatives on an ongoing basis.

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