TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen insisted the Government’s restriction of public service recruitment and promotions would have to apply to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The office, he said, had taken steps to comply with the Government decision without adversely affecting front line prosecution services.

“We will continue to work with officials from the office of the DPP and the Department of Finance to ensure the necessary resources continue to be available to the DPP to enable it to fully and effectively discharge its function,’’ Mr Cowen added.

The Taoiseach was replying to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who said the DPP had stated in a report that his office was very stretched and something must give in the event of an increase in the workload.

Mr Gilmore sought an assurance that there would be no failure to pursue prosecutions, or that no prosecution would be delayed, because of the savings being made.

Mr Cowen said there had been a close liaison between the DPP and the investigating authorities, and, obviously, prosecutions were a matter of major priority.

It was in the public interest that they were dealt with as expeditiously as possible, he said.

“Concern has been raised about the length of time it takes, but there is also a necessity to ensure there is due process and that nothing is said or done that would compromise the prospective prosecution of any persons arising from those investigations,’’ Mr Cowen added.

“Taking all of that into account, there is no reason to believe that these matters will not be given the utmost priority.’’

The Government, he said, had already reduced its overall staff numbers by ten per cent since January 2008, and would continue to reduce numbers, while maintaining services, by a further two per cent below the employment control framework target set by the Department of Finance by the end of 2014.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said savings should not be made at the expense of the DPP delivering a service as in the past.