Constitution

Ireland 1937 Constitution (reviewed 2019)

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

ARTICLE 30

    1. There shall be an Attorney General who shall be the adviser of the Government in matters of law and legal opinion, and shall exercise and perform all such powers, functions and duties as are conferred or imposed on him by this Constitution or by law.
    2. The Attorney General shall be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
    3. All crimes and offences prosecuted in any court constituted under Article 34 of this Constitution other than a court of summary jurisdiction shall be prosecuted in the name of the People and at the suit of the Attorney General or some other person authorised in accordance with law to act for that purpose.
    4. The Attorney General shall not be a member of the Government.

5

    1. The Attorney General may at any time resign from office by placing his resignation in the hands of the Taoiseach for submission to the President.
    2. The Taoiseach may, for reasons which to him seem sufficient, request the resignation of the Attorney General.
    3. In the event of failure to comply with the request, the appointment of the Attorney General shall be terminated by the President if the Taoiseach so advises.
    4. The Attorney General shall retire from office upon the resignation of the Taoiseach, but may continue to carry on his duties until the successor to the Taoiseach shall have been appointed.
  1. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article, the office of Attorney General, including the remuneration to be paid to the holder of the office, shall be regulated by law.