Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 179: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the position arising from the 2006 Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade 2) Competition where only three Irish lawyers out of 40 were declared qualified by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. [42652/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 180: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the fact that offering a place to an Irish lawyer in the 2006 Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade 2) competition was conditional on the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel losing a foreign contract drafter in that office. [42653/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 181: To ask the Taoiseach his views on whether the 37 lawyers who did not qualify at the 2006 Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade 2) competition organised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, deserve to be independently reconsidered before the posts are re-advertised. [42654/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 182: To ask the Taoiseach the number of candidates who applied for the 2006 competition for Advisory Counsel (Grade 3) positions in the Office of the Attorney General; and the number declared qualified. [42655/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Taoiseach the statutes enacted since 2003 that were drafted in whole or in part by foreign contract drafters without naming the individual drafters involved. [42656/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 184: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the media reports to the effect that morale in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is down to the floor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42657/06]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 to 184, inclusive, together.

I refer the Deputy to my replies to Written Questions No. 132 to 136 from Deputy Rabbitte on 5 July, 2006, Written Question No. 221 from Deputy Gormley on 27 September, 2006, Written Questions Nos. 177 and 178 from Deputy Sargent on 14 November, 2006 and Written Questions Nos. 165 to 169 from Deputy Allen on 28 November, 2006.

The Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (Grade II) competition was organised on behalf of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government by the Public Appointments Service. Neither the Office nor the Public Appointments Service have been informed of any unhappiness in relation to the running of the competition or its outcome. There is absolutely no question of any applicant being branded a failure.

The original sanction from the Department of Finance did specify that, based on the Government's decision on Public Service numbers, any increase in permanent positions would have to be offset by a reduction in contract positions.

The 2006 competition to recruit Advisory Counsel (Grade III) staff attracted 48 applicants, of whom 21 were shortlisted for interview, 18 presented themselves for interview and 9 of these were placed on a panel. Six have taken up duty to date.

In the course of previous replies, I pointed out that many drafting projects are undertaken by more than one drafter. Contract drafters, like permanent staff, collaborate with colleagues in training and peer review of draft legislation. It would not be possible to give an accurate figure as to how many Acts of the Oireachtas contract staff drafted in whole or in part.

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government does not accept that there is a morale problem in the Office.