Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

While I welcome the findings of the recently published Transparency International's index for 2014 which shows an improvement in Ireland's score for the second year in a row, there is an active debate among commentators on the robustness of such measures which indicates the results should always be treated with some degree of caution.

My priority in implementing a suite of reforms under the programme for Government to enhance openness, transparency and accountability has been to take concrete measures to reduce corruption risk permanently. In this context, a wide range of measures to facilitate more open, transparent, accountable and ethical public governance arrangements have been introduced. These include legislation for lobbying, whistleblowing, freedom of information, open government and Civil Service accountability. These comprise important elements of the broader policy framework necessary to ensure the ethical performance of public functions.

On account of important reforms previously put in place, employees in the public sector are required to adhere to ethical standards under the ethics Acts. As an essential part of the overall reform programme, my Department is finalising a review of the current legislative framework for ethics in public office, taking account of international best practice. In this regard, it is completing a detailed draft general scheme of a Bill designed to have a consolidated, modernised, simplified and streamlined set of arrangements, including a strengthening of the current investigations and sanctions regime.

I expect to submit proposals in this regard to the Government early in the new year. Subject to Government approval, I intend to publish, alongside the draft scheme, a policy paper on the legislative proposals to inform and encourage public debate and to act as a basis for further public consultation on the proposed Bill. I look forward to hearing the views of Opposition Members and all Members of this House on these proposals.

In order to address concerns relating to procurement corruption risks, Directive 2004/18/EC requires contracting authorities to exclude from the tender process any tenderers who have been convicted of various types and categories of offence, including corruption, fraud, money-laundering and participation in a criminal organisation.

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