Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 16, inclusive, together.

Mr. Loughlin Deegan, a qualified solicitor, was appointed on 29 July 2002 to the position of special assistant to act as a liaison between the Attorney General and myself and other Departments on items relevant to the programme for Government. His duties also include briefing the Attorney General on items arising in the Dáil and Seanad or media which could impinge on, or be relevant to, the role of the Attorney General.

Mr. Deegan does not provide legal advice or legal services directly to Departments but provides advice and assistance directly to the Attorney General on the matters relevant to the work of the Attorney General. He provides assistance to the Attorney General in matters such as the drafting of speeches and public presentations.

The Office of the Attorney General has sanction for 135 staff. Of this number, 15 have recently been sanctioned by the Department of Finance and the office is recruiting these additional staff. Several competitions, organised on behalf of the office by the Public Appointments Service, are in train. These include competitions for advisory counsel grade III and legal researchers. Internal competitions are in train and others are being prepared. There remain a small number of administrative or support posts to be filled from the normal Public Appointments Service general service or decentralisation panels.

In addition to permanent staff, the office retains six drafters on contract. These positions are filled pursuant to Department of Finance sanction. All contract drafters engaged by the office have significant drafting experience either in the State or in common law jurisdictions. In the past, all have previously held senior drafting positions, including former heads of office of the UK Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Canadian Federal Drafting Office and the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel. All contract drafters come highly recommended.

Typically, a contract drafter will be given a one-year contract which may subsequently be extended depending on the level of work dictated by the Government's legislative programme and the availability of permanent staff, which can be affected by term-time working arrangements, maternity leave etc. The need for contract drafters is kept under constant review.

The amounts paid in respect of the contract drafters are set out in the following schedule.

Thomson Roundhall delivered its report on 6 February 2007 on the electronic Statute Book. Of the recommendations contained in the report, consideration is being given to two options. The first option could be concluded within seven weeks at a cost of €37,000 and would correct the errors. The second, more technical and less urgent option would involve reformatting and would take 25 weeks at a cost of between €125,000 and €175,000. It is not intended to proceed with it initially. However, this route will be further considered in the context of the electronic Statute Book value for money review which is far advanced. The cost of the feasibility and costs report from Thomson Roundhall was €10,587.50, including VAT.

On the question of the role of the Attorney General in determining fees to be paid, all tribunal counsel fees are sanctioned by the Department of Finance and are paid from the relevant departmental Vote. In that context, the Office of the Attorney General offers a view as to the level of fees payable.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Schedule — engagement of contract drafters 2002 to 2006

Please note that annual information is presented and that all the contract drafters may not have been engaged at the same time during the year.

During 2002, the office retained four contract drafters and paid amounts of €65,468, €68,755, €72,373 and €137,095.

During 2003, the office retained five contract drafters and paid amounts of €10,158, €69,528, €73,772, €91,390 and €142,270.

During 2004, the office retained six contract drafters and paid amounts of €35,951, €73,807, €81,206, €96,178, €121,682 and €137,762.

During 2005, the office retained seven contract drafters and paid amounts of €1,293, €41,675, €87,668, €114,680, €131,822, €136,462 and €154,668.

During 2006, the office retained eight contract drafters and paid amounts of €15,548, €61,839, €74,536, €92,600, €99,324, €115,904, €144,911 and €168,526.

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