Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

What has delayed the legislation? The Taoiseach was responsible for its introduction. I have wondered about the legislation. A gift or benefit of up to €2,000 is sizeable and the idea that somebody given the responsibility of running a Department would not be able to exercise judgement on whether it is appropriate to receive a gift of that size without seeking the opinion of SIPO seems extraordinary. The Bill was announced at the time to provide some political cover, particularly for the then Minister, Michael McDowell, following the emergence of the dig-out money at the tribunal of inquiry. It is a fig leaf for the Taoiseach to say he is waiting for the enactment of the legislation to review the code of conduct for officeholders when it is perfectly clear that the Government has no intention whatever of progressing it.

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