Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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474. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a full report on the actions and investigations being taken on foot of the reports of the Moriarty tribunal; the status of these investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10267/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may wish to note that one recommendation (62.15) of the Moriarty Tribunal falls within my remit.  This recommendation seeks that consideration be given to Office Holders, (within the meaning of the Ethics in Public Office Acts, 1995 and 2001), being able to elect voluntarily to have their financial affairs audited by an inspector appointed by the Standards in Public Office Commission. This inspection could be carried out at any time during their period in office and for a defined period thereafter.  

As the Deputy may be aware, a detailed review of the current statutory framework for ethics was undertaken by my Department.  This included examination of the recommendations of the Mahon and Moriarty Tribunals and other relevant recommendations, as well as international best practice.  On foot of this examination, the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015 was drafted and published on 23 December 2015.  It completed second stage in the Dáil on 20 January 2016.  This Bill is now scheduled to recommence at Committee Stage in the Dáil on 6 April with a view to enactment by the summer. 

The approach adopted in the Bill aims to secure the relevant objectives of the Tribunals to significantly strengthen the regulatory framework for the effective management of conflicts of interest and for minimising corruption risks.  It is strongly guided by the analysis and findings contained in the Tribunal reports.  In this context the proposed legislative reforms include, for example, a significant broadening of the material and personal scope of declarations of interest, increased frequency of declarations where changes have taken place and broadening and significantly enhancing the powers of the regulator for the ethics system.  The proposals draw on the Moriarty recommendation and make provision for the regulator to carry out "own initiative" investigations which would encompass the Moriarty recommendation relating to voluntary audits.