Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 16, inclusive, together.

Deputies will be aware that, as provided in Article 30 of the Constitution and in the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, the Attorney General’s role is to advise the Government in matters of law and legal opinion. The Attorney General also attends meetings of Government. I maintain regular contact with the Attorney General and meet with him in the normal course of Government business and at Government meetings. I have met him since the publication of his report on matters relating to nursing home charges and the disabled persons maintenance allowance on 7 February.

The Office of the Attorney General comprises three constituent elements: the advisory counsel to the Attorney General; the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government; and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. All three assist the Attorney General in the provision of legal advice to the Government. This includes advice to Ministers, Departments and certain other public bodies, the drafting of legislation, the representation of the State in litigation and the performance of other functions, particularly those of a statutory nature. The current arrangements for the Attorney General’s office have served and continue to serve the State well. There are no plans at present for significant or fundamental reforms to the office.

The Attorney General’s office, like Departments and other State offices, seeks to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. It embraces organisational change and development in order to meet the growing demands on its services. The nature of the work, with constant changes in Irish, EU and international law and high demands from across Government, requires a responsive office and compliance with the highest professional and public service standards.

There are currently three legal actions against the Department of the Taoiseach, two of which relate to regulations providing for access to information on the environment. The third concerns matters relating to agriculture, in which my Department is named as one of the respondents. The House will understand that I cannot comment on the detail of these legal actions because they are currently before the courts.

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