Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

The position in relation to permanent staffing in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government is set out in a table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. There are currently 19 permanent staff and four consultant drafters serving in the office. In December 2002, 18 permanent staff and four consultant drafters were employed. Three assistant Parliamentary Counsels, grade II, were promoted following an internal competition to assistant Parliamentary Counsel, grade I, on 14 November 2007.

As a consequence of this and of the Department of Finance sanction of 26 July 2007, five vacancies at assistant Parliamentary Counsel, grade II, level arise. A competition organised on behalf of the office by the Public Appointments Service in respect of those vacancies was held in December 2007. Three of the successful candidates will join the office on 25 February, 3 March and 28 April, respectively. The office intends organising a further competition before the summer to fill the remaining two vacancies.

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