James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his future plans for political reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42352/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A number of key future reform initiatives are underway in this area building on the significant progress achieved under the Programme for Government.  For example:

- It is intended to publish a Public Sector Standards Bill which will provide a new and reformed legal framework for ethics for all public officials, significantly enhancing the existing framework for identifying, disclosing and managing conflicts of interest as well as minimising corruption risks and ensuring the institutional framework for oversight is robust and effective.

- It is intended to publish a Bill to facilitate greater data sharing between public bodies to occur under best-practice governance arrangements and fully consistent with data protection legislation.

- It is intended to publish a Statute Law Reform Bill which will repeal spent and obsolete Acts enacted between 1922 and 1950.

- Under my Open Data Initiative, the recent established Open Data Governance Board intends to further enhance the potential of access to information and data held by public bodies in order to deliver real economic, social and democratic benefits across society.

- Under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 lobbyists must have registered and made their first return with the Standards in Public Office Commission by 21 January 2016 if they have engaged in lobbying activities during the period 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015.  To date over 500 persons and organisations have registered on the lobbying register.  Guidance notes and other supports are available on .

- A range of initiatives to strengthen accountability including the development of a Code of Standards and Behaviour for Special Advisers are expected to be implemented.  This Code will be supported by an induction programme.  In addition, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, a review of the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, introduced in 2014, will be undertaken early in the new year.

- Development of the second action plan under the Open Government Partnership initiative will also be advanced.