Q&A: Shedding light on attorney general’s role

The job of the attorney general has been thrown into focus in the latest controversies surrounding the gardaí and Department of Justice. Here Caroline O’Doherty explains briefly what the State’s chief law officer’s functions are and how her office operates.

Q. Who or what is the attorney general?

A. The State’s chief law officer, the person who advises the Government, government departments, government offices and various government committees, commissions and working groups on legal matters, including litigation by and against the State, the repeal of old legislation and drafting of new law, conveyancing, and the impact of EU law and other international developments.