John Bruton
Question:5 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the recently published annual report of the Attorney General's office. [12672/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Attorney General's Annual Report.
The first annual report of the office of the Attorney General covering the period April 1996 to July 1997 was published on 21 May. The report was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and copies were supplied to all Members.
I congratulate the Attorney General and his staff on the production of this excellent report and acknowledge the role of the former Attorney General, Mr. Dermot Gleeson, Senior Counsel, in the modernisation of the office of the Attorney General which made the production of an annual report possible.
The report describes the role and the many and varied functions of the office, including the offices of the parliamentary draftsman and the Chief State Solicitor. I welcome it as an informative document and commend the manner in which it records the work of the office in the period covered.
Is it the case that the Attorney General is the exclusive legal adviser to the Government and that outside counsel hired by him are not legal advisers to the Government? Is it the case that in certain recent instances the Government has not——
The question relates to the annual report of the office of the Attorney General.
One of the functions of the Attorney General is to produce an annual report to which the question relates. I am asking about the performance of those functions.
The question relates to the annual report of the office of the Attorney General. It cannot be expanded to deal with the various functions of the Attorney General.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the annual report discloses that £3.6 million has been paid to outside counsel? Is it the case that in at least one instance outside counsel have been brought in to advise the Cabinet on a particular issue and, if so, is this not trespassing on the exclusive role of the Attorney General as the sole legal adviser to the Government?
The report covers the period April 1996 to July 1997. I do not recall anyone being brought in. If the Deputy has knowledge of somebody coming in during his period in office——
If the Taoiseach says that is not the case, I accept that.
No one came in during the few weeks I was in office in that period.
As the Taoiseach's Department answers questions in the House on behalf of the Attorney General's office, will the Taoiseach confirm that a figure of £3.6 million has been paid for outside legal advice?
That matter will arise under Question No. 18.
We will not reach that question.
That is not the Chair's fault. I am doing everything possible to make progress on questions.
Will the Chair allow me some injury time?
We cannot pre-empt a question on the Order Paper. The Deputy will have to wait until we reach his question.
The Chair is being very tough.
I am not half tough enough.