Written answers

Thursday, 23 September 2021

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Ethics in Public Office

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the current state of public ethics and standards in Irish political life given recent events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45430/21]

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that neither I nor this Government are in any way complacent when it comes to the matter of ethics and standards in our political life.

Since its establishment in 2011, my Department has committed significant resources in terms of policy development and consultation across government to explore how the statutory framework for ethics can be reformed to make it fit-for-purpose. Legislation to this end which was brought forward by my predecessor in 2015 lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil in advance of last year’s general election, but we made a commitment in the new Programme for Government to “reform and consolidate the Ethics in Public Office legislation”. As the Minister responsible, I recently brought proposals to Government for a review of the statutory framework for ethics in public life, which is the first step in delivering on our commitment.

This review will consider, inter alia:

- Ireland’s existing ethics legislative framework;

- The recommendations of relevant tribunals of inquiry;

- Recommendations made by the Standards in Public Office Commission based on its operation of the current regime;

- The views of key stakeholders;

- Current EU/international best practice; and

- The views submitted during a public consultation.

The outcome of the review, which the Government agreed, will inform proposals for legislative reform that I intend to bring forward in 2022, with the ultimate goal of an easy to understand and user-friendly ethical framework that contributes to the quality and effectiveness of our public administration.

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