Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am not broadening it, I am responding to something that was specifically referred to in the Taoiseach's reply. He told the House that the changes in the code of conduct would be brought in after the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill is enacted. I am pointing out to the Taoiseach that the enactment of the ethics Bill is a long-playing record at this stage. That Bill was passed in the Seanad in July 2007. On a number of occasions I have asked in the House for the reason it was not brought before the House and I have not received a satisfactory response. Perhaps the Taoiseach might take the opportunity today to tell us when it will be brought before the House so that we can see when these changes in the codes of conduct might be likely to be made.

In this context is the Taoiseach considering any change in the code of conduct as it might apply to State agencies? There is a provision in the code of conduct that office-holders should not accept offers to meet the costs of travel or commercial accommodation from private citizens or enterprises. There is also reference to discretion where the office-holder is the official guest of another government or body but there is no explicit reference to where the Minister might be entertained by a State agency and particularly by a State agency which is under the Minister's own remit.

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