Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:77. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date by which the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015 will be enacted. [48497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 16 November 2017
Ceisteanna (77)
Freagraí scríofa
The Public Sector Standards Bill provides for the disclosure of registerable interests by members of the Oireachtas and public servants, and for investigation of possible non-compliance with the legislation. The Bill consolidates the current legislative framework governing the ethical obligations of public officials. It aims to significantly enhance the existing framework for identifying, disclosing and managing conflicts of interest and minimising corruption risks, to achieve a shift towards a more dynamic and risk-based system of compliance and to ensure that the institutional framework for oversight, investigation and enforcement is robust and effective.
The Bill was published on the 23rd of December 2015 and completed Second stage in the Dáíl on the 20th of January 2016. Committee stage commenced on the 6th of April 2017 and 42 of the 66 sections in the Bill were passed that day. The Committee requested that, prior to the rescheduling of the Bill for completion of Committee stage, all TD's, Senators and Local Authority representative organisations be written to by the Minister giving information about the Bill. These letters issued on 10th May. In addition, a briefing session for Oireachtas members was held on 30th May.
In an effort to further assist in the understanding of the Bill, Minister of State O'Donovan is currently meeting with opposition spokespersons on a one-to-one basis. It is hoped that following these meetings, Committee Stage will be recommenced and the Bill can progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas without further delay. It is anticipated that the Bill will be enacted in the first half of 2018.