Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1583. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if she has received any gifts from visiting dignitaries; if she will provide a breakdown of the details of these gifts, their value, and the way they were disposed of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41122/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1584. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if she has received any gifts while travelling abroad; if she will provide a breakdown of the detail and value of these gifts and the way they were disposed of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1585. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if she or her Department have given any gifts to visiting dignitaries; if she will provide a breakdown of the detail and the value of these gifts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41158/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 to 1585, inclusive, together.
Under Section 15 of the Ethics in Public Office Act (1995) gifts presented to office holders valued in excess of €650 are deemed to be gifts to the State and must be recorded accordingly following valuation through the Office of Public Works. I did not receive any gifts worth more than €650 from visiting dignitaries since taking office as Minister for Justice, nor have I provided gifts to visiting dignitaries.
The Deputy may wish to note that, while visiting Atlanta and Savannah in March 2022 for St Patrick's Day, I purchased gifts to provide personally, the cost of which will not be expensed. While visiting New York to speak at the UN and meet with local law enforcement agencies Minister Browne gave some small personal tokens of Ireland which were not expensed.
I can also confirm that Office Holders in my Department have not given or received any gifts worth over €650. The regulations regarding receipt of gifts by civil servants in my Department and all government Departments are set out in Section 16 of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour 2004. All staff in my Department have been provided with a copy of the Code as part of the Departments Corporate Governance Framework. In addition, under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, all staff at Principal Officer grade and above, and those officers in designated positions under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, are required to declare any gifts received of a value in excess of that set out in the Ethics Acts, in an annual Statement of Interests.
