Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which a gift to a serving Minister will be deemed to be a conflict of interest under the purposed new amendment to rules governing ethics in public offices. [33180/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance in respect of the announcement made on 11 October 2006, regarding a proposed amendment to the Ethics in Public Office Act in regard to the acceptance of gifts or loans by office holders or Members of the Oireachtas, when the legislation will be published; the main features of the proposed amendment; if there will be consultation with the Committee on Members' Interests; if there has been consultation with the Standards in Public Office Commission on this proposal, if such consultation is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33115/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 113 together.

The Deputies will be aware that office holders and members of the Dáil and Seanad may accept a significant gift in only limited circumstances.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste issued statements last week indicating that the Ethics legislation will be amended to require an office holder or member, before accepting a significant gift or loan, to seek the opinion of the Standards in Public Office Commission that acceptance of the gift or loan would not be likely to compromise the discharge of his or her public duties, and to abide by the Commission's opinion.

The details of the proposal are being worked on at present and the Government will bring forward legislation when this process has been completed.

As regards consultation, when the proposal is at a more advanced stage I intend to consult the Select Committees on Members' Interests before final decisions are made. In my view, it would not be appropriate to consult with the Standards in Public Office Commission at this stage in the process, in view of its general role and the role it would have in the operation of the proposed requirement.