Matt Carthy
Question:499. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the amount allocated to climate finance in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39277/23]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (499)
Written answers
The Department of Finance contributes to international climate finance alongside the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Climate and Communications, and Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The table below sets out the amount of international climate finance reported by the Department for 2020 and 2021, the most recent confirmed figures.
|
Year |
Amount of Climate Finance Reported |
|
2020 |
€15,482,227 |
|
2021 |
€18,372,095 |
The Department of Finance reports its international climate finance under the provisions of the EU Governance Regulation. The above figures are based on applying the OECD’s imputed multilateral share for climate finance to Ireland’s payments to the African Development Bank and Fund, the Asian Development Bank and Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank, and the World Bank Group.
Tax Data
Questions (500)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:500. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Finance the amount of carbon tax accrued on a year-by-year basis since 2015; the amount of carbon tax revenues ring-fenced for climate action measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39326/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Revenue that a breakdown of excise receipts for 2022 and prior years is available on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-receipts-commodity.aspx
I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform that In line with the Programme for Government commitment to hypothecate all additional carbon tax revenue for use in climate action and just transitionary measures, each year, his Department issues a publication on the use of carbon tax funds for the forthcoming year alongside the Budget. This paper details the specific allocation of carbon tax funds in line with the Programme for Government commitments and provides details of the areas that will receive funding.
In 2023, the carbon tax revenue available for investment was €623m. This was comprised of the additional revenue made available in 2022 (€174m), 2021 (€148m), 2020 (€90m) and an additional €211m in 2023.
• €291 million of this carbon tax revenue was allocated to residential and community energy efficiency in 2023, an additional €89m on 2022. This funding permitted the continuation of a range of expanded supports for energy efficiency, including 80% grants for attic and cavity wall insulation, and grant support of up to 50% for deep efficiency measures. Almost half of these funds were allocated to provide free of charge energy efficiency upgrades to households in, or at risk of, energy poverty.
• €81m of this revenue has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to fund the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) detailed in Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023. The purpose of this scheme is to support up to 50,000 farmers when fully operational who undertake actions that will be beneficial for the environment. This will support improved outcomes on biodiversity, climate, air and water quality.
• €218m was allocated to targeted social protection measures, an additional €44m on the 2022 allocation, which allowed for increases in the fuel allowance, the living alone allowance, and the qualified child payment. Analysis conducted in support of Budget 2023 has found that households in the bottom five income deciles are better off as a result of the increased spending on social protection made possible by the increases to the carbon tax. So, the lowest income half of all households in Ireland are net beneficiaries from this increase in the carbon tax.
• The remaining revenues (€33m) were allocated to fund the continuation of the 2020 - 2022 Carbon Tax Investment Programme. The specific programme allocations are detailed on the Department's website and include support for the Just Transition Fund, peatlands rehabilitation, the Greenway and Urban Cycling programmes, grants for Electric Vehicle purchase and infrastructure, green agricultural pilot schemes and a contribution to the Green Climate Fund, which provides financial support to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries and to help vulnerable societies adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
A table with the breakdown of the allocation of all carbon tax revenues to date is included below. This includes detail on the 2023 allocations for the Carbon Tax, which totals €623m, comprising continuation of the 2020 - 2022 Carbon Tax Investment Programme as mentioned above, as well as major increases in incentives for farming in a greener and more sustainable way, residential and community energy efficiency, and targeted social protection measures, such as increases in the fuel allowance, the living alone allowance, and the qualified child payment.
Table 1 - Carbon Tax Allocation 2020-2023
|
Programme/Scheme |
Department |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
2022 €m |
2023 €m |
|
Investment in Residential Energy Efficiency & Community Energy Efficiency |
DECC |
13 |
113 |
202 |
291 |
|
Targeted Social Protection Interventions |
DSP |
21 |
69 |
174 |
218 |
|
Incentivising farming in a greener and more sustainable way |
DAFM |
- |
- |
3 |
81 |
|
Continuation of 2020 Carbon Tax Investment Programmes in Other Departments |
Various |
56 |
56 |
33 |
33 |
|
Total |
90 |
238 |
412 |
623 |
Full details on the allocation of carbon tax revenues are available in the Departmental paper "The Use of Carbon Tax Funds 2023", which is available from assets.gov.ie/235732/93f95f31-bc1e-4823-993f-af16492fe628.pdf. Additional carbon tax revenues for allocation in Budget 2024 will be outlined in a similar publication this year.
Legislative Programme
Questions (501)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:501. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if he will make the necessary changes to an Act (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39361/23]
View answerWritten answers
I welcome the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 that will give individuals greater flexibility in making decisions that affect their lives.
I am aware that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulation 1994, specifically Regulations 10(5) (b), will need to reviewed and revised to reflect the new legislative situation following the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022.
Regulations 10(5) (b) makes provision to waive the conditions concerning both family membership and residency of a claimant under Regulation 10 in the case of a claim lodged by a person appointed by the President of the High Court to act on behalf of a disabled passenger who is a Ward of Court.
Since 26 April 2023 applications for adults to become a Ward of Court can no longer be made. There will be a gradual transition to a new three-tiered assisted decision-making framework, depending on the assessed decision-making capacity of the individual.
My officials have begun to explore policy options, in light of the broader objectives of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 as well as the objectives of the Scheme. There are a number of factors that will require careful consideration and discussion before the details of legislative amendments to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulation 1994 can be finalised.
National Asset Management Agency
Questions (502)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:502. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the full-year cost of running NAMA, including details of number of employees, the average earnings of a NAMA employee and the range of incomes of these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39416/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have been advised by NAMA that the information requested by the Deputy is publicly available in NAMA’s 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements which is published on the NAMA website.
The relevant information can be found within the Report as set out below:
• NAMA’s administration expenses for the full year to end-2022 is: €43.9 million. The breakdown of administration expenses is set out in the Financial Statements Note 13 (p.88).
• 110 NAMA staff* at end-2022.
• Information relating to Staff Costs is published in the Financial Statements, Note 13.1. The range of salary paid in 2022, in bands of €25,000, can be found on p.91.
• The average basic pay during 2022 was €104,000.
NAMA’s operational and staff costs are reducing annually and are expected to further reduce in line with the operational wind-down of the Agency, to conclude by end-2025.
*NAMA has no employees. All personnel are employed by the NTMA and the remuneration cost of staff who are engaged full time in the NAMA business are recharged to NAMA by the NTMA.
Pension Provisions
Questions (503)
Brendan Griffin
Question:503. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has established an entitlement to a public service pension from their service with the OPW; if this service can be added to service in an educational training board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37205/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy’s question comprises two matters – whether an individual holds an entitlement to a preserved pension in respect of a period of employment with the OPW and whether such service can be transferred to their current pension scheme membership. I propose to address each matter in turn.
In the first instance, it is a matter for the previous employer – in this case, OPW – to confirm if the individual’s seasonal employments were considered reckonable for pension purposes and the individual was placed in a public service pension scheme in respect of each period of employment.
At the time the individual was employed with OPW, the minimum service requirement for entitlement to preserved benefits under the civil service pension schemes, known as the 'vesting period', was 5 years' qualifying service.
Therefore, if the individual was a member of a public service pension scheme during their seasonal employments with OPW and they had accrued the required 5 years’ qualifying service prior to cessation of that employment, they may have retained a preserved pension entitlement in respect of that service.
Alternatively, if they had not met the vesting period on cessation of their OPW employment(s), they may have received a refund of any pension contributions paid and would not be entitled to preserved pension benefits in respect of that period. If that was the case, they may still have an option to repay any refund received, plus compound interest, in order to now reckon that service. These are matters for the OPW to confirm upon investigation of the individual’s employment history and personnel files.
If the individual retained a preserved pension entitlement in respect of their earlier OPW employment, or if it is confirmed that they are eligible to repay any refund received plus interest in order to reckon their service, it may be possible for them to transfer that service to their subsequent HSE and ETB employments for pension purposes.
The rules governing transfer of service in pre-existing (pre-2013) public service pension schemes are primarily set out in Department of Finance Letter to Personnel Officers 24 April 1979 ‘Draft Transfer Scheme’ and Letter to Personnel Officers 30 January 1981. That scheme has its origins in section 4 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963, which, in short, provides that a person who is employed in a pensionable capacity in an “approved organisation”, may transfer pensionable service from one approved organisation to another. Collectively, these organisations make up what is known as the ‘Public Sector Transfer Network’ (PSTN).
It is a matter for each of the individual’s previous employers to verify whether the individual’s prior service meets the eligibility criteria set out in those transfer scheme rules and may be transferred to a subsequent public service pension scheme.
One such rule relates to the sequencing of transfers of service between participating bodies and requires that where a person holds reckonable service in multiple public service pension schemes, any transfer of service must be effected in sequential order based on their employment history, i.e. reckonable service must be transferred from the first organisation they worked for to the second organisation and so on.
Provided the OPW verify the individual’s pension entitlement during their period of employment with them, the individual may apply to transfer this period of service through the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), who administer pensions on behalf of the civil service. Their contact details may be found here: nsso.gov.ie/en/contact-us/.
Flood Risk Management
Questions (504)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:504. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will examine and address matters in relation to flooding in a location as in the case of the house of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37219/23]
View answerWritten answers
There is a proposed Flood Relief Scheme identified for Listowel, Co. Kerry, which will be funded under the Government's flood risk investment programme of almost €1.3 billion under the National Development Plan to 2030.
While the proposed scheme in Listowel is not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed, the OPW continues to liaise closely with Kerry County Council to ensure that the programme of flood relief projects identified for Co. Kerry is kept under review, and that all projects will be commenced as soon as possible and within the timeframe for the National Development Plan.
The Clieveragh area of Listowel, Co. Kerry has experienced significant flooding, including during the recent flooding event. Kerry County Council recently submitted a request for funding for works that exceed the threshold for the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. This proposal is currently under consideration by the OPW as possible interim works in advance of the appointment of consultants for the Listowel scheme.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (505, 506, 507, 508, 509)
Thomas Pringle
Question:505. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the CFRAMS for Raphoe, County Donegal is on schedule for implementation; the current timeframe for the delivery of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37253/23]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:506. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the CFRAMS for Castlefinn, County Donegal is on schedule for implementation; the current timeframe for the delivery of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37254/23]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:507. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the CFRAMS Killybegs, County Donegal is on schedule; when can it be expected that a timeframe for the implementation will be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37255/23]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:508. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the CFRAMS for Ballybofey, County Donegal is on schedule for implementation; the current timeframe for the completed delivery of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37256/23]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:509. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the CFRAMS for Donegal Town, County Donegal is on schedule for implementation; the current timeframe for the completed delivery of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 to 509, inclusive, together.
Fifteen flood relief projects were identified in County Donegal under the Flood Risk Management Plans announced in May 2018. Following consultation and discussions between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Donegal County Council (DCC), nine of the Donegal projects were selected and are actively being progressed in the first phase of implementation, in addition to a scheme for Raphoe that was under design at that time.
Delivery of flood relief schemes is a complicated process which has five distinct stages which are as follows;
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Stage II: Planning Process, Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Stage III: Detailed Design
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Stage V: Handover of Works
Raphoe Flood Relief Scheme
The proposed flood relief scheme for Raphoe has completed Stage I and Stage II has progressed significantly. The Raphoe flood relief scheme has been recently submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for confirmation in Q2 2023 under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. Detailed design, construction drawings and specifications will be developed in Q1 2024 and it is envisaged that construction of the scheme will begin in 2025, subject to Ministerial confirmation.
Castlefinn Flood Relief Scheme
The Castlefinn flood relief scheme was included in the first tranche of schemes and is currently at Stage I which is due for completion in Q4 2023. Subject to a successful and timely planning process, it is currently envisaged that construction of the scheme will begin in 2025.
Ballybofey-Stranorlar Flood Relief Scheme
The Ballybofey-Stranorlar flood relief scheme was included in the first tranche of schemes and is currently at Stage I which is due for completion in Q2 2024. The engineering consultant are progressing the Hydraulic modelling at the moment, as well as numerous surveys and reports for the completion of Stage I. Subject to successful and timely planning process, currently it is envisaged that construction of the scheme will begin in 2026.
Donegal Town & Killybegs Flood Relief Schemes
While the proposed projects for Killybegs and Donegal Town are not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed, they are in the Tranche II list of schemes.
The OPW in May 2023 approved funding for Donegal County Council to recruit three additional staff members, to support the delivery of the flood relief schemes for the county.
The scheme for Donegal Town has been approved to commence as part of a national pilot to inform the delivery model for future flood relief schemes. This pilot is being overseen by a Steering Group that includes representatives from Donegal County Council. The pilot includes data collection by the Council ahead of and to inform the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants. The outcome of this pilot will help to inform the best delivery model for the flood relief scheme at Killybegs and Donegal Town.
Every effort is being made by DCC, OPW and the relevant consultants where appointed to have all of these schemes in place as soon as is possible to protect homes, businesses and people in these communities.
Question No. 506 answered with Question No. 505.
Question No. 507 answered with Question No. 505.
Question No. 508 answered with Question No. 505.
Question No. 509 answered with Question No. 505.
Flood Risk Management
Questions (510)
Pa Daly
Question:510. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what measures are being taken by the OPW to relocate persons (details supplied) due to flooding. [37336/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme was introduced by the Government in 2017 to address the very serious flooding of those homes that flooded in the Winter of 2015/16, including those homes flooded by turloughs.
To be eligible for assistance under this once-off Scheme, a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions, including that floodwater entered and damaged the building during or as a result of flooding during relevant dates such as to render it uninhabitable and that there is no viable engineering solution that could protect the building from future flooding.
Under this national Scheme, a total of 174 potentially eligible homes were identified to the OPW in two ways, either by the local authorities or through direct expressions of interest from homeowners. At all times, participation in the Scheme has been voluntary for homeowners. Through follow-up meetings with the homeowners and both desk-based and engineering assessments, approximately half of those homeowners either were not interested in engaging with the Scheme or did not meet the Scheme criteria.
Some homeowners identified as being potentially eligible will benefit from engineering solutions that will protect their homes from future flooding. The OPW and the Local Authorities identified 33 homeowners who would otherwise be eligible for relocation who will benefit from inclusion in planned flood relief schemes and Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme projects. In addition to these projects, an important element of the administrative arrangements of the relocation Scheme was the establishment of a unique and once-off scheme of remedial works for identified engineering solutions for eligible homes for which there is no other funding source. To date, remedial works have been identified to protect some 19 homes from future flooding and work is continuing to explore possible engineering solutions for a further 3 homes.
Where an engineering solution is not feasible, based on best available information at the time of each decision, the OPW offers financial assistance towards relocation to a replacement home, equivalent to the cost to the relevant local authority, on a like for like basis.
To date, 29 homeowners have received formal offers of financial assistance for relocation. Of these, 18 homeowners have now completed the process, at a cost of €4.7m, which has enabled them to relocate and purchase or build a replacement home under the Scheme. The remaining homeowners who have received formal offers of financial assistance are at various stages in progressing through the Scheme for relocation.
My Office does not comment on individual applications under the Scheme.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (511)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:511. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when Leighlinbridge Garda station will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37357/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Office of Public Works is awaiting direction from An Garda Síochána in respect of plans for the former Garda Station at Leighlinbridge.
Office of Public Works
Questions (512)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:512. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress of the Office of Public Works refurbishment of Carlow courthouse railings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37363/23]
View answerWritten answers
Conservation of the railings at Carlow Courthouse was initiated in 2016 by Office of Public Works conservation architects. It was decided to carry out the work on the basis of an initial pilot phase on ten sections of the railings. This was a trial exercise to establish a correct works methodology and to gain as much cost certainty as possible for the future phases of work. Repairs and restoration works remain to be carried out on 50 sections of railings. Due to Covid-19 the pilot phase was delayed and was finally completed in early March 2023. The defects liability period comes to a close on the 6th March 2024.
The restoration and conservation works to the railings completed to this point have been successful. The Courts Service and the Office of Public Works are hoping to advance the next stage of the project as a priority. A design team is to be assembled shortly to apply for the requisite permissions and scope the scale and methodology for the conservation and restoration works to the remaining railings. This will lead to a programme for the advancement of all associated works on site.
Public Sector Pay
Questions (513)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:513. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the median salary WTE in the public sector for each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37409/23]
View answerWritten answers
The data required to calculate the median public service salary on a WTE basis is not held centrally by my Department. However, an estimate of the average unit cost of a public servant can be provided over the period requested. It should be noted that these figures are inclusive of employer PRSI costs and so this figure is not the average pay received by public servants. The table below sets out the average unit cost of Exchequer funded public servants from 2011 to 2023. The 2023 figure is an estimate based on projected end-year FTE numbers and the Exchequer pay bill as set out in REV 2023.
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
57,642 |
57,521 |
56,945 |
55,185 |
55,015 |
55,062 |
56,305 |
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
58,753 |
60,586 |
63,376 |
61,962 |
65,264 |
66,622 |
In terms of the average salary in the public service, the CSO publishes quarterly analysis of average hourly and weekly earnings across the economy, including the public service. There are also analyses provided of public service earnings by sub-sector which may be useful. These can be found on the CSO website here: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/earnings/earningsandlabourcosts/.
Public Sector Pay
Questions (514)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:514. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the average salary of secretaries general in the public sector for each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37410/23]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to the table attached at Tab A showing the average salary for secretary general posts since 2011. The average for 2009 and 2010 is also included for context.
As the Deputy may be aware, the salaries for Secretary General Level I, II and III are set out in the relevant pay circulars published at gov.ie/circulars.
Departmental Communications
Questions (515)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:515. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37415/23]
View answerWritten answers
Ballylongford, Co. Kerry was assessed as one of the 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme identified potentially viable flood relief works for Ballylongford that may be implemented after project-level assessment.
The €1.3bn government investment in flood relief will support 150 additional flood relief schemes nationally. These form part of the Flood Risk Management Plans launched in 2018. Since then the OPW has trebled the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction to some ninety schemes. While the proposed project for Ballylongford was not in the first phase of projects to be progressed, it is in the Tranche II list of schemes. The OPW and Kerry County Council are working closely to ensure that it will be commenced within the timeframe of the current National Development Plan.
In 2014 Kerry County Council applied to the Office of Public Works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for funding of €102,430 to carry out coastal flood mitigation measures in Ballylongford as a remedial measure. €92,187 (90%) was approved in January, 2015. Works commenced in February, 2015 and were completed in May, 2015. These works included the construction of embankments and raising of embankments, the construction of a wall and the construction of a ‘flapped’ chamber. The areas in which these works were undertaken are Bridge Street, Rusheen and Quay Street.
My Office will liaise with Kerry County Council so that the homeowner is contacted in relation to managing the flood risk at their property.
Ethics in Public Office
Questions (516, 517, 518, 519)
Patrick Costello
Question: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 answerPatrick Costello
Question:517. 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 answerPatrick Costello
Question:518. 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 answerPatrick Costello
Question:519. 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 answerWritten answers
I 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.
Question No. 517 answered with Question No. 516.
Question No. 518 answered with Question No. 516.