asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the guidelines, if any, issued by him to members of the Government regarding the acceptance of gifts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acceptance of Gifts.
10.
Ministers have been made aware of the long standing practice of accepting only relatively inexpensive gifts to mark occasions such as official openings. As indicated to the House on 19 October 1988 this Administration conforms to long established international practice covering the exchange of official and personal gifts between host and guest on the occasion of official or State visits.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the guideline he has just read to the House is too vague, that it would be appropriate to have a monetary limit on the value of gifts which may be accepted by members of the Government from foreign Heads of State, representatives of industry or whoever and that it is important in the public interest that there should be an upper limit clearly specified and laid down? Perhaps it could be varied from time to time but it should be clearly limited.
On the face of it that proposal would appear to have a lot to recommend it but on the other hand it does cause difficulties. I know that some countries which tried to adopt that practice have had to abandon it for protocol and other reasons. It could be considered again.
Would the Taoiseach not accept that it should not cause any great difficulty because if there was any doubt about the matter there would be nothing to stop the Minister concerned passing over that gift to the Irish nation, the National Museum or some other appropriate institution? Suspicion often arises in the public mind that unwarranted activities are going on.
If the Deputy thinks about it I believe he will find it is not as simple as that.
May I ask the Taoiseach why not?
As I have said there are questions of courtesy and protocol involved.