Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

One of the issues which came out of this is that while we introduced an enormous amount of legislation, such as the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, the Electoral Act 1997 and the later electoral Act, it is still possible for somebody to receive a substantial gift from a friend or a loan and not declare it. That point was made here and elsewhere on a number of occasions. I made the point myself.

The Tánaiste and I agreed to amend the ethics legislation to deal with the question of significant loans or gifts from friends. Essentially what we have in mind, and what the Government approved in principle this morning, is that the views of the Standards in Public Office Commission will be sought where such gifts or loans arise. In any such case, the commission will be required to give its opinion as to whether acceptance of a loan or gift would compromise an officeholder, Deputy or Senator in the discharge of his or her functions. It would be an offence not to seek or comply with an opinion of the commission in these circumstances. At present, that is not there. Many people were surprised to find it was not there. We will bring forward the legislation as quickly as we can to deal with this issue.

Regarding how the Tánaiste knows the Moriarty tribunal will publish its second report in January, it is because I told this to the House approximately two weeks ago in reply to a question. Nobody knows what it contains.

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