Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This week the role of the Attorney General was brought into question with respect to advice given to the Government.The role of the Attorney General was brought into question regarding the advice given to the Government. I am somewhat unclear about this. A number of people have contacted me about the statement made by my colleague in the Lower House, the Minister for transport, that the opinion of the Attorney General was nothing but an opinion. We need a debate in this House in order to establish whether the opinion of the Attorney General should determine the way in which legislation will pass through the Oireachtas or whether we can second-guess that prestigious office. The latter has not happened in the past, I understand, but is now very much on the table. In fairness to the Oireachtas and the people of the country, we need to establish what the Attorney General's advice means when it comes to passing legislation through the House. If the situation that has now developed is that every time the Attorney General gives advice it can be second-guessed, we need to clear that up and do so very soon.