Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have read all of that material already and I am of course going to take it into account. I have been looking at what the record has been in the context of how many people have been applying to SIPO for exemptions from section 22. The numbers are quite low, but that does not mean they are insignificant. They relate primarily to special advisers. In 2020, there were six applications. In 201,9 there were two applications for special advisers. In 2018, there were two applications for special advisers. In 2017, there were five applications received, three of which were for special advisers, one was for a senior civil servant in a Department and one for an official in a Department. In 2016, two applications were received, one of which was for a special adviser and one for an official on a local authority. As it happens, none were from former public representatives. This is not to say that some should not have, an issue on we are all very much aware given recent developments.

On Deputy Nash's point, there is a need for a wider review of ethics legislation. The Deputy will be aware that SIPO has responsibility for: the Ethics in Public Office Act; the Electoral Act 1997, which deals with the key issue of political financing, political donations and election expenses; the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014 in the context of the use of public funds by political parties and independents; and the Act we have been discussing here, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. We are committed to a complete review of ethics legislation and I want to engage with all parties on that.

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