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Tribunals of Inquiry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Ceisteanna (405, 406)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

484 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to act on the findings of the Mahon Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20477/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

On 22 March, the day that the Final Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (Mahon Tribunal) was published, I referred the Report to the Garda Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners and the Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission for their consideration and for such investigation or further steps as they may consider appropriate, given the content of the Report and the issues of public importance it raises. It will, of course, be a matter solely and exclusively for those institutions of State to decide on what action, if any, to take. The Garda Commissioner has referred the Report to the Criminal Assets Bureau, which will lead the Garda investigation and follow-up.

In addition, the Government formally considered the Report's findings at its meeting on 27 March and agreed that the relevant Government Departments, working with associated agencies under their aegis, as appropriate, should consider as a matter of urgency the recommendations contained in the Report and to revert to my Department by the end of April with proposed actions to be taken on foot of the specific recommendations and a timeframe for their implementation, with a view to enabling me to report back to Government during May.

Moreover, some of the Report's recommendations are already being actioned through ongoing legislative reforms and commitments in the Programme for Government. The Government will reflect on the recommendations with a view to enhancing the many reforms already underway.

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

485 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any of his officials have attended any meetings recently regarding recommendations in the Moriarty and Mahon Tribunal reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19792/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The Government considered the findings of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal at its meeting on 27 March and agreed that the relevant Government Departments, working with associated agencies under their aegis, as appropriate, should consider as a matter of urgency the recommendations contained in the Report and revert to my Department by the end of April with proposed actions to be taken on foot of the specific recommendations and a timeframe for their implementation, with a view to enabling me to report back to Government during May.

In that context, my Department is currently examining the Report's relevant recommendations with a view to developing comprehensive responses to them. In this regard, as part of regular contacts with officials on planning matters generally, my colleague, the Minister for Housing and Planning, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, T.D., has had discussions on the planning recommendations of the Report, in advance of bringing forward responses to specific recommendations.

Moreover, some of the Report's recommendations are already being actioned through ongoing legislative reforms and commitments in the Programme for Government. The Government will reflect on the recommendations with a view to enhancing reforms already underway.

In the latter regard, in respect of the Moriarty Tribunal's Report, its recommendations have substantially informed the development of the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, which, when enacted, will fundamentally change the way politics is funded and conducted in Ireland. In particular, the Bill will significantly enhance the openness and transparency of political funding in Ireland, issues that were central to the recommendations made in the Moriarty Tribunal Report.

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