asked the Taoiseach if all the posts for parliamentary draftsmen are currently filled in the Office of the Attorney General and, if not, when such posts will be filled.

3.

asked the Taoiseach if the Government have any proposals to increase and expand the number of parliamentary draftsmen employed in the Office of the Attorney General, in order to meet their legislative programme.

4.

asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied with the present arrangements relating to the number of parliamentary draftsmen employed by the government; their terms and conditions of employment; and if the numbers presently employed are sufficient to meet the government's declared legislative programme.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 3 and 4 together.

At present there is one vacant post, that of senior draftsman, in the office of the parliamentary draftsman and the Civil Service Commission are making arrangements for the holding of a competition to fill that post.

I am satisfied as to the number of parliamentary draftsmen employed and their terms and conditions of employment and, with the filling of the vacant post, the adequacy of their numbers to deal with the Government's legislative programme.