The Fine Gael deputy leader has called on the Government to amend the legislation establishing the office of the DPP rather than re-advertise the position.
Ms Nora Owen told The Irish Times yesterday that the Taoiseach should bring an amendment before the Dail as soon as it returns after the recess.
Ms Owen said the appointment should be for a fixed period rather than for life. It is now likely that the new advertisement will be posted within the next few days.
It is understood that the decision to re-advertise the position, with no time limit on the term of office, was made following an examination of the legislation by the new Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell.
There have been no applications for the job from practising barristers or solicitors. Legal sources have pointed out that if an experienced criminal barrister or solicitor became DPP and left the position after seven years, this person would be unable to practise in the criminal area for a number of years because he or she would have been involved in drawing up the papers in so many cases.
However, Ms Owen said this was a very weak argument for not doing something which was right and proper. She stressed that the DPP's term of office should not be for life.
