Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
49. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the assurances that his Department will seek to make sure that a person's activities abroad will not impact negatively on a person's duties as a State Solicitor in Ireland. [35273/22]
View answer50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach if a court action affecting the former State Solicitor for Cork took place during their tenure in New York, USA and the Seychelles up to their retirement in 2013, if the State sought any guarantees that it would not affect their role; and whether that is something that the State takes a view on. [35274/22]
View answer52. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Taoiseach the assurances that his Department would seek to make sure that a person’s activities abroad would not impact negatively on a person’s duties as State Solicitor in Ireland; the reason that they were not asked to stand down while court cases abroad in relation to their activities were ongoing. [35752/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 50 and 52 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of her functions in accordance with Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. This statutory independence is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system.
State Solicitors are appointed by and enter into a contract for service with the DPP to provide legal services arising from her functions under the 1974 Act. As such, it is not appropriate to comment on any particular State Solicitor.
The terms of the contract cover a number of matters including conditions of appointment, legal services to be provided, remuneration, restrictions on private practice and reporting obligations.
