Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Parliamentary Draftsman's office should have its own Accounting Officer in view of the fact that its work is separate in nature from the advisory role of the Attorney General's office and requires financial independence to allow it to be innovative and achieve best value for money. [42189/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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By virtue of Article 30.1 of the Constitution and section 6 of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 and the ninth part of the schedule to that Act, the Attorney General has control and responsibility for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. The function of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is to draft Government Bills and Government Orders. The Office also drafts many but not all Statutory Instruments on behalf of Ministers of the Government, Ministers of State and certain State Authorities. The Office is an integral part of the Office of the Attorney General. Accordingly, I see no need to alter the current arrangements for accountability.