Legislative Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Ceisteanna (1039, 1040)

John Gormley

Ceist:

1216 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of pieces of legislation 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. [21833/04]

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

1261 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [22697/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1216 and 1261 together.

My Department has not subcontracted out the drafting of primary legislation or sought the approval of the Attorney General to do so. However, legal advice has been sought on particular aspects of the proposed Strategic National Infrastructure Bill and the drafting of three sets of regulations. Advice on some preliminary heads and proposals for the general scheme for the proposed Strategic National Infrastructure Bill was obtained from a firm of private solicitors. Legal fees of €25,410 inclusive of VAT were paid for this work. This general scheme is still being considered and has not been forwarded to the Attorney General's office for drafting.

External legal advice on the drafting of the Large Combustion Plant Regulations 2003, Ozone in Ambient Air Regulations 2004 and the European Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading) Regulations 2004 was obtained. The charges respectively for the legal advise obtained was €4,235, €5,445, and €9,680 all inclusive of VAT. I have no plans to outsource the drafting of legislation this term.