Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 8

Written Answers. - Exemption of DPP.

Mary Harney

Question:

25 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Finance the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is more accountable to Dáil Éireann in view of the commitment given in Dáil Éireann on 21 November 1995. [2928/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I am assuming that the "commitment given in Dáil Éireann on 21 November 1995", refers to my comments during the Second Stage debate on the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Bill, 1995, that I would be willing to reconsider the exemption of the Director of Public Prosecutions provided for in the terms of the Bill as published.

On Committee Stage which was taken last month, an amendment in my name was agreed which removed the total exemption previously proposed for the DPP. As a consequence, the Bill now provides for a broadly similar accountability and compellability arrangements to those proposed for the Attorney General. This means that the Public Accounts Committee would have the power to compel the Director of Public Prosecutions to appear before it and give evidence relating to matters of general administration. While still respecting the principle that information relating to specific cases remains exempt, it has been possible in this instance to provide for the bringing into the compellability category statistical matters arising from a report which the Government has arranged for the Director to publish at regular intervals.