Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is part of our heritage with which we have to contend. However, it is open to try and develop the committee system. Where there are broad areas of agreement in the House on issues that may require legislative enactment, then it is open to Members to try and work constructively together. Too often, however, partisanship dominates and it seems people would be fearful that we would be in agreement on certain things. In fact we probably agree on far more than we let on. It would be helpful if Dáil reform could develop a committee system to do that.

There is an arrangement whereby outside drafting personnel are provided but in any case such work must be finally approved by the officials in the Office of the Attorney General. Having taken a question from the Deputy's party leader this morning and with reference to February 2008 when this question was asked, there are now more drafting personnel in the Office of the Attorney General. It is the policy to move away over time from contract to permanent staff. This has been achieved even in the context of a moratorium and by means of the office not employing certain staff in other areas of activity. The point is made that we need to be efficient and effective in everything we do. I agree the legislative work load is high. We could do a lot more by working together but we need eminent Members of the House on all sides to come together and try and make this happen.

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