Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 132: To ask the Taoiseach the sanctioned staffing level and the number of vacancies which currently exist in respect of the Office of the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27198/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 133: To ask the Taoiseach the sanctioned staffing levels in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in respect of the Office of the Attorney General; the number of vacancies that exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27199/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Taoiseach the number of legal drafters currently employed on a contract basis in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in respect of the Office of the Attorney General; the sanctioned number of contract legal drafters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27200/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Taoiseach the criteria under which legal drafters are engaged on contract in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27201/06]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 136: To ask the Taoiseach when the last promotional examination for the post of assistant parliamentary counsel grade 1 in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27202/06]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 136, inclusive, together.

The current sanctioned staffing level in the Office of the Attorney General is 120. At present, there are 117.73 staff members serving with 5.27 vacancies. However, 3 of the staff are supernumerary while training for secondment to other Departments (see below). Two vacancies are expected to be filled on 10 July.

In November, 2005 the Department of Finance gave sanction to the Office to recruit up to 6 Advisory Counsel (Grade III). These recruits are to be trained in the AGO before being seconded as legal advisors to other Departments. Ultimately, these new staff are to be counted as part of the sanctioned staff numbers in their host Department but are counted as supernumeraries in the AGO until they actually take up duty in these Departments. At present, the Office has 3 of these supernumerary staff and a further 3 are expected in the next few months. Additionally, the Office in April 2005 received Department of Finance sanction to increase the number of Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade II) by 6. However, such an increase is dependent on a similar reduction in the number of Contract Drafters engaged so that, overall, the total staff numbers remain unchanged.

The current sanctioned staffing level for permanent staff in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is 19. As stated above, this figure can increase to 25 provided such an increase is offset by an identical reduction in the number of Contract Drafter positions. At present, there are 2 vacancies (the precise figure is 1.7 as staff numbers are affected by atypical working patterns) in the number of Assistant Parliamentary Counsel.

Earlier this year, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel held a recruitment competition for permanent drafting staff. Although there were 40 applicants, only 3 were successful at all stages of the competition and were offered positions. Of these, 1 accepted the offer and took up duty on 26 June, 1 has declined the position and 1 is still considering the offer of appointment. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has sanction to fill up to 8 Contract Drafters positions in total and currently it engages 7 drafters on a contract basis. However, not all of these work full-time and their contribution is equivalent to 5 full-time drafters.

The Contract Drafting positions are filled pursuant to Department of Finance sanction. All Contract Drafters engaged by the Office have significant drafting experience in common-law jurisdictions similar to our own. In the past, all have previously held senior drafting positions, including, former heads of office of the UK Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Canadian Federal Drafting Office and the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel. All Contract Drafters come highly recommended. Typically, a Contract Drafter will be given a one-year contract which may subsequently be extended depending on the level of work dictated by the Government's Legislative Programme and the availability of permanent staff, which can be affected by term-time working arrangements, maternity leave etc.

The last promotional competition for a post of Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade I) in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel took place in September, 2003, resulting in the promotion of an existing Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade II). While there are currently 2 promotional vacancies at the Grade I level, staff at the Grade II level are relatively new and still undergoing training. Up to this time, management's view has been that, in the main, the staff were not yet ready for promotion to this Principal Officer equivalent position. However, the situation will be reviewed in the Autumn.