Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I echo the Chair's words in wishing the Minister well. On section 1 which refers to the 2001 (amendment) Act, I wish to ask him whether any consideration was given to consolidating the Prevention of Corruption Acts in this legislation which, clearly, we welcome, as we did in the Dáil when it was introduced two years ago. Therefore, it has had a long genesis and passage through that House. I do not why its passage has taken so long because there was no opposition to it and certainly there were no substantive amendments tabled either by us or Fine Gael in the Dáil. The Minister's were the only substantive amendments tabled.

Was any consideration given to codifying the legislation dealing with the prevention of corruption? The Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption, GRECO, in its report of 2009 on Ireland noted a number of prosecutions taken under the Prevention of Corruption Acts and so forth. It stated reform of the legislation could bring greater clarity to the relevant provisions and benefit the wider public and those operating the legislation. It is unfortunate that we are still dealing with the 1906 Act, the 2001 Act and now this new legislation. The final provision of the Bill states they will be cited together as the Prevention of Corruption Acts. There is, therefore, an opportunity to codify all of the related anti-corruption legislation under one cover. The Minister has addressed other recommendations made in the GRECO report in different provisions of the Bill and it seems appropriate under section 1 to raise this general point that emerges from the report. It would make sense to benefit the general public and those dealing with the legislation. Given the enormous level of public concern about corruption and so on, it would have been a good idea to take the opportunity to codify the law, particularly given that it has taken so long to get the Bill to this House.