Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The issue has been dealt with through the Houses of the Oireachtas and has not been proceeded with. When it will be taken is a matter for the Whips and the Minister for Finance. The issue of what thresholds would apply now is matter for decision on Committee Stage. The idea behind it was that there was a gap in the situation regarding people who provide gifts who were friends of an officeholder but did not do so in the context of the performance of duties. This Bill was provided to fill those gaps. That was the idea behind it, as I recall.

On the more general and important point, it is very important that whatever arrangements for officeholders which have been long-standing under successive Administrations be reviewed in the context of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. I do not think anybody in the House would suggest otherwise. The Minister for Finance, in June or July, provided a circular on updated guidelines on travel and what arrangements are put in place. It takes account of how air tickets can be booked at the best possible cost for the taxpayer. These developments took place when guidelines on the old arrangements had not been sufficiently updated. That is being done.

In every aspect of what we do we have to be clear and transparent and I am in favour of transparency, as is the Government. We are anxious to proceed. As the Deputy knows, the commission have had some proposals. The Minister for Finance has a view regarding the verification of what was proposed. I am sure it was proposed in good faith. He has taken a view that there are further considerations to be given to that to improve the verification procedure rather than the composite block grant proposal.

I heard a suggestion this morning that he was in some way blocking this progress. In fact, he is seeking to ensure that we meet the standards the public will expect, in terms of verification of these matters. He is advancing it. While everyone puts forward proposals in good faith, whether it is members of the commission or whatever, it should not then be portrayed as if there is a blocking mechanism on the Government side. The Government side is trying to ensure that we meet the requirements the public would expect in these matters, even beyond what has already been proposed. It is only fair to say that. Let us have that discussion and debate and bring it to a conclusion. We would like to bring it to a conclusion quickly.

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