Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Jun 1988

Vol. 382 No. 1

Written Answers. - Attorney General's Powers.

62.

andMr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the manner in which the Attorney-General can be held accountable to Dáil Éireann, as is the Government under Article 28.4.1 of the Constitution, for the discretionary decisions he is empowered to take under functions and duties conferred on him by law in accordance with Article 30.1 of the Constitution, in particular, the manner in which he may be asked questions about decisions he has taken under the powers imposed on him by the Statutory Instruments Act, 1947, which powers enable him to decide that certain statutory instruments are not to be published, examples being virtually all regulations governing publicly funded education; if there is no mechanism for Dáil Éireann to question the Attorney General, if he will consider amending the Statutory Instruments Act, 1947, to assign to a Minister the powers given to the Attorney-General; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As this is a complex question, involving legal and constitutional issues, it has not been possible to prepare an answer in the short time available. I am having the matter examined, and will write to the Deputies as soon as possible.

Barr
Roinn