Ahern says changes being made in AG's office

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that all 19 of the recommendations of the Sullivan Report on events in the Office of the Attorney…

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that all 19 of the recommendations of the Sullivan Report on events in the Office of the Attorney General leading up to the "A" case are being implemented.

Mr Ahern told the Dáil implementation of each of the individual recommendations began at various points between last July and this month.

The Sullivan Report was published following an investigation into the Attorney General's office's handling of the issues surrounding a Supreme Court statutory rape case which declared that section 1.1 of the 1935 Criminal Law Amendment Act was unconstitutional.

Following an investigation, Department of Finance official Eddie Sullivan made 19 recommendations.

READ MORE

Mr Sullivan found that the failure by a legal official to inform Attorney General Rory Brady of the Supreme Court challenge was a mistake and not a cover-up.

The report also found that the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Chief State Solicitor's Office needed to better coordinate their activities. Mr Ahern said officials from all three offices were now meeting regularly.

Mr Ahern also noted that there were currently 550 cases being taken which would challenge Acts of the Oireachtas, although he said a large number of these related to the same Act.

The Taoiseach was answering a question on the matter from Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte.