I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 210 together.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directs what charges if, any, are to be preferred against a person. As the Deputy will appreciate the DPP is statutorily independent in this function and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
On Thursday, 8 June, I informed the House in the course of the reply to a Parliamentary Question that a Criminal Justice Liaison Group was founded at the end of 2004 and chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. I indicated that the Attorney General's Office had been invited to meetings of the Group. I have since been informed that the only law officer invited to attend meetings of the Group is the Director of Public Prosecutions. My answer was therefore unintentionally misleading in respect of the formal composition of this Group.
For the record, I have been informed by the Secretary General of my Department that the Criminal Justice Liaison Group has representatives from An Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Irish Prison Service, the Courts Service, the Probation and Welfare Service, the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
My Department has a very close working relationship with the Attorney General's Office. I am satisfied that many opportunities exist for discussion between relevant officials in both organisations on issues of mutual concern.