Results 1-20 of 22 for in 'Dáil debates' segment:1741593

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Enda Kenny: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the names, duties and responsibilities of the special or political advisers or assistants appointed by the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2850/04]

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Mr. Loughlin Deegan, a qualified solicitor, was appointed to the position of special adviser to act as a liaison between the Attorney General and myself and other Departments on items relevant to the programme for Government as well as to keep the Attorney General informed on items arising in the Dáil and Seanad or media which could impinge on, or be relevant to, the role of the Attorney...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Enda Kenny: As the Taoiseach is aware, the Attorney General is not elected and is not a political entity in the way that Deputies and Senators are. He does not have a programme or an agenda to implement, nor should he. He is the protector of the public interest, the legal adviser to the Government and a constitutional office holder. Did I understand the Taoiseach to say that Mr. Deegan operates as a...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He does not give legal advice to or provide legal services for the Attorney General. On behalf of the Attorney General, he monitors what is going on. The Attorney General cannot monitor what is happening in all Departments, keep in touch with the legislative programmes of all Ministers and with everything being dealt with by his office or monitor what is going on in the Dáil and Seanad. Mr....

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Enda Kenny: The Taoiseach has gone considerably outside the scope of what is a so-called political adviser in this instance. He stated that Mr. Deegan monitors what is going on. Are we not paying €20 million of public money for a communications unit which monitors what is going on and provides information in that regard to members of the Government? Does Mr. Deegan, in his capacity as political adviser...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The Attorney General's office is independent and, therefore, Mr. Deegan is not a political adviser in any form. He acts as a special assistant and liaises between the Attorney General, me and other Departments and colleagues on items that are relevant to the programme for Government. He also keeps the Attorney General informed on items arising in the Dáil, the Seanad, committees and the...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Enda Kenny: If that appointment is relevant only to the Attorney General, would Mr. Deegan monitor public comment and discussion on, for example, the citizenship referendum in terms of the proposal to amend Article 9 of the Constitution as distinct from Article 2 in respect of which the Attorney General will obviously have to provide legal advice to Government? Does he monitor media coverage and does he...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That information would be available to the Attorney General but, in so far as advice or work on it is concerned, that is a matter solely for the Attorney General.

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Enda Kenny: I know that.

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He provides no advice and is not involved in the preparation of any such advice. He, perhaps, would gather some information but he would have no role in the preparation of advice.

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Pat Rabbitte: When was the liaison officer appointed? The position is not one traditionally associated with the Office of the Attorney General. Was such a person in place during the term of office of the current attorney's predecessor? Admittedly, the previous attorney would have required a great deal of monitoring as he had a number of other jobs. Did he have the benefit of such a person or did this...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As far as I can recall, Mr. Deegan is the third appointment to this position. There may have been more appointments but Mr. Deegan is the third appointment I know of in this regard. Deputy Rabbitte makes the point that there is a necessity to appoint a liaison officer. Whether everything works perfectly at the end of the day is another matter. It is essential there is a person available to...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Pat Rabbitte: I am genuinely not clear on why a person in the Attorney General's office, a permanent officer in the employment of the State, could not perform that task. What is the difference?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: The reality is that management structures within the Attorney General's office, which brought together all sections of that office, have only been in place since Mr. Gleeson's time in office. That office was not technologically driven and the current form of legislation committee did not exist, nor did the link-back structures with the Departments. This House processes 50% more legislation...

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: To whom does the adviser in question report in the course of the monitoring undertaken? Is it to the Attorney General or to his own office? Does he liaise with the legal agent in each Department, does he initiate or do they initiate? To whom does ultimate responsibility fall regarding the initiation of a proposal?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He reports only to the Attorney General. He is responsible to him, and any work he does is on behalf of the Attorney General. As part of the Government legislation committee, he reports to the Attorney General on any liaising he does.

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: What about the legal agents?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: Not normally.

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bernard Durkan: So there is no contact with the legal agents?

Special Advisers. (30 Mar 2004)

Bertie Ahern: He will have contact, but he does not have any involvement with the advice, and therefore legal agents would not——