Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Jackson for her observations on the Bill as proposed. I note her reaffirmation that the Minister and the Department strongly agree with the principles underpinning this Bill, and her Department's commitment to working with me and my advisers on the proposal. I personally do not mind who takes ownership of this Bill. Is the Department drafting legislation at the moment or is it looking at alternative options to this Bill? I do not particularly want to pursue this legislation in order that I can go around with a feather in my cap, saying that I have a Bill on the Statute Book. I am interested in the outcome of the Bill. If there is a parallel process happening and we can bring the two proposals together, that might help the Department if it is looking to bring forward legislation.

The witness raised the question of registering recipients versus registering suppliers. Deputies have to declare to the Standards in Public Office Commission. We have to declare gifts as recipients. Why should it be the case that the provider of the gift would be obliged to declare, rather than the recipient? One could argue that both should be obliged to declare. There would then be absolute transparency, in the sense that one could be checked against the other.

Obviously I can accept that there would be a cost involved in establishing a register. However, it should be a fairly straightforward operation using software. We do not need fancy, elaborate offices with teams of people. This would be a register that would be filled out online and made available for public inspection. I do not know whether a very elaborate system is required in other countries or whether the Department has even assessed how other countries have set up a register, who oversees it, or under what agency it is located, such as other countries' equivalent to the Medical Council.

Is there a role for the European Union in drafting a directive on this?