Clause 31 - Director of Public Prosecutions
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
11:30 am
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough, Conservative)
I am not sure that I share the h Lady's worries. If one supports the process of devolution, one is looking for a constitutional chain between the director, who carries out the day-to-day work of the relevant prosecuting authorities in Northern Ireland, and the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland, who is answerable to the Assembly. The DPP is not answerable to the Assembly, so Members of the Assembly will not be able to cross-examine him about the policies of the prosecuting authorities, although they will be able to question the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland—and I hope that they will be given more than five minutes every month in which to do so.