John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the rules and protocol in place within his Department governing gifts to him or to members of staff within his Department; the number, nature and value of gifts that have been presented to him since becoming Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3920/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of reporting requirements, I follow those set out for Members of the Oireachtas and office holders in the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, the associated government guidelines, and the guidelines to the Acts provided by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

The requirements include an annual statement of my registrable interests to the Standards in Public Office Commission. This statement of registrable interests, including gifts of a value in excess of that set out in the Acts for office holders, is forwarded by the Commission to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann. The statement is entered in a register established by the Clerk which is laid before Dáil Éireann and is publicly available. The regulations regarding receipt of gifts by civil servants in my Department and all government Departments are set out in Section 16 of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour 2004. All staff in my Department have been provided with a copy of the Code.

In addition, under Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, all staff at Principal Officer grade and above, and those officers in designated positions under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, are required to declare any gifts received of a value in excess of that set out in the Ethics Acts, in an annual Statement of Interests.