Ceist:
111 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the number of barristers retained in army deafness cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10599/98]
Written Answers. - Hearing Impairment Claims.
In State cases barristers are nominated by the Attorney General.
Under the Prosecution of Offenders Act, 1974, the Attorney General has an obligation when nominating in State cases to ensure a fair distribution of briefs among the Bar taking one case with another and having regard to suitability for specific cases and to the public interest. In order to ensure that all these cases were not limited to a small number of State counsel but were spread more widely, the Attorney General established a panel of barristers with the intention that work in these cases would be distributed to the names on that panel by the Chief State Solicitor's Office up to a maximum number of briefs per barrister. Because of the need to have a cut-off point there has been a substantial turnover on the panel of barristers. As of the end of April there were 53 barristers on the list to be used in these cases.