Vol. 405 No. 6
4 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach if he has a code of instructions for members of the Government, including himself, in relation to the value of presentations made to Ministers at official openings of commercial concerns; and if so, if he will stipulate the upper limit on the value of such presentations.
All concerned have been made aware of the practice whereby Ministers accept only relatively inexpensive gifts to mark such occasions. This is the same practice which has applied to and been followed by successive Administrations over many years.
Will the Taoiseach tell us what he regards as relatively inexpensive? Does he have in mind a figure of £100, £500, or £1,000?
No, no particular figure has ever been stipulated. My predecessors on a number of occasions have dealt with this matter and it has always been left to the judgement of individual Ministers as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate.
Would the Taoiseach regard a presentation to the value of £5,000 as being out of order?
Very likely, yes.
Would he consider it likely to be open to bribery or corruption if such a presentation were made?
I do not think such words should be used in this context.
It never applied in this country.
We do. We sweep them under the carpet.
Very strong unparliamentary language is being used.
I just make the generalisation.
Is this justified?
Would the Taoiseach agree that, apart from the question of presentations and their value, it is a gross waste of Government time and Ministers' time to attend these kinds of openings? Government Ministers are surely paid to be at their desks administering the affairs of the State.
I am afraid that is a rather fatuous comment.
I do not agree.
It is very necessary for Ministers to perform these types of functions from time to time in different parts of the country, and I want to tell the Deputy they are greatly appreciated by the organisations concerned, very often voluntary organisations.
Or local cumainn.
It is very often necessary for the organisation concerned, whether commercial, semi-State bodies or whatever, to mark the occasion by some sort of ministerial attendance.
Especially at the local elections.
In relation to the receipt of gifts and presentations by others to Ministers or to the Taoiseach, does the Taoiseach consider it necessary to have legislation to limit the value and the amount that can be received and taken as a personal gift by members of the Government?
I do not think so. I do not think there is any major abuse or any great situation to merit such legislation. In fact, I am aware of one country which had legislation in this area and it broke down and they had to abandon it.
