Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2000 require office holders to furnish declarations of interest as a general safeguard of probity in public office. The purpose of the section is to require the members of the commission to inform the Minister of interests that would affect their membership of the commission. These may be matters that would not figure in a general declaration relating to the substantive posts which qualify them for ex officio membership of the commission but which might be relevant to their membership of the commission.

For example, a relative of a commissioner might run a private sector recruitment agency which applies to the commission for listing as an approved agency. The relevance of the fact would be immediately apparent to the Minister who would raise it with the member concerned, if declared, whereas it might be lost on the Standards in Public Office Commission. In addition, the ex officio members of the commission are persons of the highest calibre. One of these is the chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission. Accordingly, it is considered more relevant that the Minister should be informed of such interests. That provides double cover.