Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the Nally report on the re-organisation of the Chief State Solicitor's Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15543/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As my predecessor indicated to the House on 3 October 2007 and on 8 April 2008 and as I indicated on 12 November 2008 in response to similar questions, the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Nally report on the re-organisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor was completed in 2007.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the comments of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. James Hamilton, regarding jury reform. He believed this was an issue of the greatest importance and that there is a need to ensure juries are properly representative of society. Everyone agrees with that. Given the cuts in funding to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the 5% increase in caseloads and initiatives such as giving reasons why prosecutions do not proceed, is the Taoiseach satisfied the DPP has sufficient resources to proceed with jury reform?

The DPP stated last weekend it is likely that for some time to come the office will have to attempt to maintain high standards on limited resources. This is a clear warning of the difficulties the DPP is having. Does this give the Taoiseach cause for concern that the DPP does not have the resources to do the job properly?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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These questions are on the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, not the DPP.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It deals with the Nally report.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is to do with the reorganisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. I do not know if the Taoiseach can help Deputy Kenny on the issue of the DPP.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Taoiseach wants to answer the question. Is he happy the DPP has the resources he should have?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not know if he can answer because he does not have notice of that.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will be of as much assistance as I can. When last I dealt with this parliamentary question, there was considerable debate on whether the office of the DPP could deliver the 3% payroll expenditure cut announced last year for 2009 while maintaining services. I can confirm that the DPP has reduced the operating cost of the office through a series of measures without having an adverse impact on frontline prosecution services. Current economic conditions dictate that all public sector organisations must make every effort to reduce operating costs. I am confident the DPP will continue to achieve the best level of service possible from the resources available.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Are there staff in the office of the DPP employed on fixed term contracts? Do the terms of the embargo on renewal of fixed term contracts apply to them?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Some 16 additional staff were approved for the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. Is Deputy Gilmore asking about the DPP?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I refer to both. Are there people on contracts?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The reply refers to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. Some 16 additional staff were approved for the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in January 2007. The office has an authorised staff level of 249 full-time equivalents. There was a suggestion that some 18 contract staff at the Office of the Chief State Solicitor were to lose their jobs because of the moratorium. However, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor has been in contact with the Department of Finance about extending these contracts. The Department agreed that 16 of them can be extended for varying periods to allow the office to achieve staff reductions and manage its workload on a phased basis. Consideration of any further requests for an extension of contracts will be based on the situation that exists at that time.

With regard to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, a review of staffing took place in 2006. Arising from that review, 28 extra posts were approved for the office, bringing its staffing complement to 106. The office currently has a serving staff complement of 197, which will rise to 198 shortly when a person already appointed to a vacant post takes up duty.