Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans within his Department to remove the requirement for all six Standards in Public Office Commission members to sit together to make decisions; and if so, the timeframe for same to be implemented. [4472/22]
View answer299. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration is being given to lowering the limits in relation to gifts to public officials that are subject to mandatory declaration, refusal or remittance or to removing the ability of TDs and Senators to accept money as a gift; and if so, the timeframe that this will be implemented. [4473/22]
View answer300. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is considering the introduction of a requirement for appropriate public officials who have an interest in or signature or other authority over a financial account in a foreign country to report that relationship; and if so, the timeframe in which this would be implemented [4474/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 299 and 300 together.
The matters to which the Deputy's questions refer fall to be considered under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (cited together as ‘the Ethics Acts’).
The 2020 Programme for Government contains a commitment to “reform and consolidate the Ethics in Public Office legislation” and last autumn I brought proposals to Government for a review of the statutory framework, as the first step in delivering on this commitment.
In brief, the review, which is ongoing, is examining:
- Ireland’s existing ethics legislative framework,
- The recommendations of relevant tribunals of inquiry,
- Recommendations made by SIPO based on its operation of the current regime,
- The views of key stakeholders;
- Current EU/international best practice; and
- The views submitted by way of a public consultation.
The review process has been underway since September, with formal stakeholder engagement and the public consultation element commencing in November. In this regard, let me acknowledge the submission made by your party to the consultation, which closed recently. The Review's outcome will inform proposals for legislative reform that I intend to bring to Government during 2022.
In this, I will seek to take full account of the views of all interested parties, including on the issues referred to in the Deputy's questions, and my Department remains open to further engagement on this important policy agenda, which is so significant for the health of our democracy. My ultimate goal is an easy to understand and user-friendly ethical framework that contributes to the quality and effectiveness of our public administration.
