I beg to move the estimate of the amount required in the year ending 31st March, 1923, to defray expenses of Criminal Prosecutions and other Law Charges including a Grant in relief of certain expenses payable by Statute out of local rates. It amounts to £46,775.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - LAW CHARGES.
Will the Minister tell us whether the Law Officers are paid by fees or by salaries?
I cannot say regarding that question, whether the old practice was to pay by fees or by salary. It is our intention in connection with this particular service I think to pay by salary for the future, for fulfilling the duties of Governmental work in the country—that one Solicitor should be appointed to do that work and that he should be paid a certain salary for doing it. They are paid salaries at present I believe—the old State Solicitors.
The old system of salaries.
And fees.
In that connection perhaps the Minister would let us know whether in addition to the salaries there are certain fees paid for any case they may accept. That is the practice, I understand, across the water. For myself I think it is a bad practice, and whatever is paid should be inclusive in the salary, and they should not be put in the unfortunate position of bestowing briefs on themselves, as prevails elsewhere. I do not know whether that is the practice here or not, but I think it is desirable one should know.
Does the Deputy mean fees for doing Government work?
Precisely.
I do not know that that is the case here. It is not so far as I am aware.
I notice under the heading "A" it says "Law Officers." I am not quite clear what may be included in that. I understood there was only one Law Officer technically so called. Who exactly would be included in that term?
There is one Law Officer; there is an assistant Law Officer, and I do not know but the sum includes some Law Officers that we may have got delivery of. I am not sure but I will enquire if the Deputy wishes.
What exactly does that phrase mean "that we got delivery of," delivery by post or delivery by pantechnicon?
They came in on their feet, so far as I know, and they remained on their feet.
Motion made and question put: "That the Dáil in Committee, having considered the Estimates for Law Charges in 1922-23, and having passed a Vote on Account of £35,000 for the period to the 6th December, 1922, recommend that the full Estimate of £46,775 for the Financial Year, 1922-23, be adopted in due course by the Oireachtas."
Agreed to.