asked the Taoiseach if he will state (a) the salary, other emoluments and expenses, etc., paid to the Attorney-General for the year 1957-58 and (b) the number of hours he spent on State work as apart from his private practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salary and Emoluments of Attorney-General.
On the 1st May of last year, I informed the Deputy that the salary of the Attorney-General is £3,000 a year. He was paid that salary for the year 1957-58, and he was paid no expenses. As to the number of hours he spent on State work, the Attorney-General is not paid by the hour, and a record of the number of hours is not kept; what matters is that he should be constantly available for State work whenever required, and he has been so available.
Would the Taoiseach say whether the volume of official business decreased or increased in that Department over the last 12 months?
That seems to be a separate question.
May I ask the Taoiseach has he given any consideration to the position where a Cabinet Minister is prevented, and rightly so, from taking part in private business outside his duties as Cabinet Minister and an Attorney-General is allowed the privilege of carrying on a private practice? Does he consider that right and just?
That surely is a separate matter, not arising at all from the question on the Paper.
Would it not arise in this way—in view of the fact that a sum of £3,000 has been paid in salary to the Attorney-General, would the Taoiseach not consider that such a sum should be sufficient rather than to have the gentleman concerned indulging in private practice as well?
The Deputy will have to frame another question to get that matter answered. It does not arise at all from the question on the Order Paper.