Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will have to report further to the Deputy on this matter. I took the opportunity to attend the legislation committee last week. I think it was the first occasion that any Taoiseach attended a legislation committee dealing with the Whips, the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Counsel. The "A" list of legislation which is published is a list of Bills that can be delivered in this session by the various Ministers in Cabinet. However, I must tell the Deputy that I have asked the legislation committee, including the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Counsel, to bring forward the absolute requirements on which the Oireachtas must deliver with regard to Bills that must be delivered within a certain time arising from the IMF-EU deal. I will report to the House as soon as I have clarification on this.

It is not a case of the Attorney General's office and the Parliamentary Counsel not being able to produce legislation. I want to commend them on the fact they have worked weekend after weekend on Saturdays and Sundays dealing with elements of legislation, and Deputy Martin is well aware of this. Often, to be honest, it is that Ministers have not had the practice of being sufficiently clear in the policy requirements which need to be drafted. It is not just a case of stating one wants to introduce a Bill about concept "X". Unless clarity is given by the Minister or Department on what is being sought in legislation, it is difficult for the Parliamentary Counsel and the Attorney General's office to enshrine it in the appropriate legislation. This is an issue about which people must become aware.

Outsourcing has proved to be very costly in the past. I am not sure of the number of Bills that were outsourced during Deputy Martin's party's time in government. A number of specialist shorter-term contracts have been issued to people of exceptional competence who have expertise in a particular area of law. This has proved to be useful as an additional source of potential for the Attorney General's office.

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