Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered bringing the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions under the Public Service Management Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32416/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Section 2(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 and Part I of the Schedule to the Act provide for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to be subject to the Act, subject to the written consent of the office holder - in this case the Director of Public Prosecutions. Any such consent would be binding in respect of any subsequent holder of the office concerned. Section 2(2) of the Act also provides for a number of exemptions to the Act for the public bodies specified in Part I of the Schedule to the Act, including the DPP's Office.

To date, none of the holders of the position of DPP has consented to the application of the Act to their Office.  I understand, however, that the current Director has continued the practice of her predecessor of applying the principles underlying the Act and procedures set out therein, insofar as she can do this, on an administrative basis.