Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
58 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance if he has concluded his consideration of correspondence received from the Standards in Public Office Commission drawing his attention to limitations in the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, arising from consideration of a case (details supplied); if he has decided on the steps to be taken to address the issues raised by the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8953/04]
View answerAs I have informed the House previously, I received correspondence from the Standards in Public Office Commission on 2 December 2003 concerning a possible amendment to section 21 of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. Advice from the Office of the Attorney General on this matter has been received and is currently being examined by my officials. My Department is also considering, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, a separate request from the commission that a possible amendment to the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 be considered. That amendment would increase the timescale within which the commission would be allowed to refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions any possible offence, which may come to its attention under section 6 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938.
