Proposed Legislation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Questions (649, 650)

John Gormley

Question:

830 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of Bills that have been drafted outside the Office of the Attorney General by solicitors since the general election of 2002; the cost to date of the outsourcing of the drafting of legislation; if legislation has had to be corrected subsequently in many cases; the Bills which are currently being drafted by firms of solicitors; the legislation he intends to outsource this term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21830/04]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

962 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if the approval of the Attorney General was sought by his Department in regard to the subcontracting out to private firms of the drafting of legislation; the number of occasions on which such consent was given; if the Attorney General is satisfied with the drafting of legislation outside of his office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22709/04]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 830 and 962 together.

In respect of the legislation on tobacco, my Department commissioned a barrister to draw up legislative proposals. However the legislation — the Public Health Tobacco Bill — was drafted in the Office of the Attorney General in accordance with normal procedures.

While my Department occasionally seeks outside assistance in respect of legislation that it is drawing up, it has not outsourced or subcontracted the drafting of any other primary legislation to any persons outside the Office of the Attorney General. There are no plans to outsource the drafting of legislation this term.