Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
516. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the implementation of the recommendations outlined by the Review of Ireland's Statutory Framework for Ethics in Public Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37455/23]
View answer517. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the measures he is taking to “strengthen the Standards in Public Office Commission”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37456/23]
View answer518. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the timeline on the introduction of the general scheme for legislative reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37457/23]
View answer519. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his views on whether the Standards in Public Office Commission should be given powers to initiate investigations without the need for an official complaint to be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37460/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 519, inclusive, together.
The Deputy may recall that the 2020 Programme for Government contains a commitment to “reform and consolidate the Ethics in public office legislation”
As a first step in meeting this commitment, Government agreed in September 2021 that my department would undertake a review of the statutory framework. This Review considered inter alia input from key public sector stakeholders including the Departments of Justice and Housing and also engaged with the Dáil and Seanad Committees on Members' Interests. The Review completed, its report was submitted to, and approved by, Government in December 2022 and published in February 2023.
The Review Report's recommendations broadly focused on five key themes:
• the legislative framework for Ethics should be underpinned by a set of overarching integrity principles;
• there should be new specific statutory prohibitions, including on the use of insider information;
• disclosure requirements should be strengthened to improve transparency and examining whether the regime should encompass more office holders;
• a strengthening of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO); and
• any post-term employment restrictions contemplated for elected officials/public servants should seek to address matters not already covered by lobbying regulation and that should align closely with that legislation.
To further progress the Programme for Government commitment, my Department is now preparing a draft scheme for legislative reform in consultation with relevant Ministers and informed by the outcome of the Review. It is my intention that the General Scheme will be brought to Government for approval to publish by the end of the year.
In particular, I envisage that this scheme will strengthen the powers of a reformed Standards Commission including strengthening its investigative powers. My ultimate goal in this is to create a fit-for-purpose, easy to understand and user-friendly ethical framework that contributes to the quality and efficacy of our public administration.
