Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The value at which a gift needs to be declared to the Standards in Public Office Commission was raised from €650 to €2,000. If a Minister, Minister of State or another officeholder gets a gift worth more than €2,000 from an organisation or individual, it must be declared to the commission.

The Taoiseach stated that the increase was meant to strike a balance between gifts of minimal value and gifts that would be meaningful enough in terms of an ethics requirement. How can a balance be struck between €650 and €2,000? It is a substantial increase. How was the amount of €2,000 decided? I do not know what kind of gift would be given to a Minister or Minister of State for opening something. The house of the former Minister, Deputy Woods, is probably full of bits of timber and glass. I hope none is worth €2,000. Will the Taoiseach comment?

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