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.