Cowen denies lack of AG staff is delaying docklands report

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has denied that a lack of staff in the office of the Attorney General was delaying the publication of the report into the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Mr Cowen said Ministers and the Attorney General would keep him updated. “It is not a question of lack of staff in the Attorney General’s office,” he added.

He was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said Minister for the Environment John Gormley had stated the reason for the delay was because the report had to be reviewed and analysed by AG’s office. He added: “The constant stream of revelations from the authority has obviously become a matter of considerable public interest.

“The most recent of these revelations involves what appears to be extraordinary amounts of travel expenses for members of the authority’s board.

“Is it the case that the Attorney General does not have sufficient staff to deal with these queries? Why is the Minister unable to publish the report until it is reviewed by the Attorney General?”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked if a “political difficulty” would be flagged by the respective adviser to the Minister or Ministers concerned for the AG’s adviser if the authority’s report was likely to be “politically troublesome” to a Minister or colleagues.

“Presumably, he or she in turn would flag it for the Attorney General,” he added.

“Would that be part of the adviser’s role? If so, where would that leave the independent – if one could call it that – role and function of the Attorney General in providing advice to the Government on such matters?”

Mr Cowen replied: “There is no question whatever of the integrity of the Attorney General being compromised in any way. He gives his advice without fear or favour and is a person of impeccable credentials.” Mr Gilmore said he was not casting aspersions on the Attorney General. “I was just asking how the system for advisers operates.”

Earlier, Mr Cowen revealed the salaries of the seven advisers in his department: Joe Lennon, €188,640; Peter Clinch, €194, 957; Oliver O’Connor, €156,241; Brian Murphy, €126,718; Gerry Steadman, €126,718; Pádraig Slyne, €92,853, and Declan Ryan, €92,672. He added that Francis Kieran was special adviser to the Attorney General.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin suggested that Mr Cowen should review the number of advisers in his department, given that Mr Cowen was constantly urging belt-tightening.