Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
466. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to proceed with the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015 which has passed second stage in the 32nd Dáil; the way in which he plans to proceed on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32927/20]
View answerThe Public Sector Standards Bill 2015, as with all Bills before the Oireachtas, lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil in January last. This Bill would have consolidated the current legislative framework governing the ethical obligations of public officials and would have given effect to relevant recommendations of the Mahon and Moriarty Tribunals.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to “reform and consolidate the Ethics in Public Office legislation ”. I have decided that to progress this commitment, a full review of ethics legislation will be undertaken by my Department. I am strongly committed to progressing this review. I am also aware of the complexity and intricacy of the task in hand and the time that will be required for a full and complete review of the existing ethics legislative framework to take place. Preliminary work on the review has commenced within my Department.
Following this review, a new consolidated Ethics Bill will be brought forward for consideration by the Oireachtas. In the interim, the existing ethics framework remains in force. The existing Ethics legislative framework consists of both Ethics Acts, along with any regulations (Statutory Instruments) made under these Acts.
