asked the Taoiseach if he is aware whether the present Attorney General has surrendered to the Exchequer any fees derived by him from private practice; and, if so, the amount of such surrendered fees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Practice Fees of Attorney General.
1.
As I stated on the 5th July in answer to a similar question, the Attorney General is not required to surrender any fees derived by him from private practice.
So far as I am aware, no person who held the office of Attorney General since 1922 and who was entitled to engage in private practice surrendered to the Exchequer any fees derived by him from such practice.
Will the Taoiseach state whether there is any restriction imposed on the Attorney General as to the extent and nature of the private practice in which he is entitled to engage?
I replied in detail to that question last week.
Would the Taoiseach answer that supplementary now? Is there any restriction——
I gave quite a lengthy reply on that subject last week to which I refer the Deputy.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied there is no question that the Attorney General in his capacity as Attorney General is not in a position to devote sufficient time to his public duties in view of the fact that he spends so much time in private practice?
May I point out that a previous Taoiseach, Deputy Costello, in reply to a question in the Dáil expressed the view that the position of the Attorney General was not a full-time post.
Is it not a fact the former Taoiseach said he regretted he did not make this a full-time post?