Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I said in my earlier reply that there were four contract drafters but it is important to point out that a recruitment panel has been drawn up. It is the intention over time to replace contract staff with permanent staff. We are constantly trying to build up expertise. We also know that from time to time it is appropriate to seek some assistance in the private sector through legal firms or whatever that would assist in the drafting of legislation. It must be pointed out that no matter how well that is done it comes back to the Attorney General's office for validation and checking by the Attorney General before it can be taken as a Government Bill. It is always a question of trying to mix and match what is the most efficient and effective way of proceeding. Ideally, it is about making sure that in this very technical area the expertise built up over many years is transferred to permanent staff complements in the office to ensure that institutional memory and expertise is retained. Despite the constraints in terms of recruitment, staffing, resources, etc., that impinge on the Attorney General's office no more than anywhere else, he has been doing a very good job in that respect.

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