Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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423. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish the report into the findings of the ethics legislation review; the timeline that he is working towards in bringing forward new legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2185/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to inform the Deputy that the Review to which her question refers has been completed and a report was submitted to Government by my predecessor Minister McGrath in December. The Government approved the publication of the Review Report and agreed to the preparation of a General Legislative Scheme informed by the Review's outcome. The draft legislative scheme will be prepared in consultation with relevant Ministers and brought to Government for approval to publish during 2023. The Review Report itself is currently being prepared for publication and it will issue shortly.

As the Deputy may recall, my Department’s review of Ireland's statutory framework for standards in public office, which was agreed by the Government in September 2021, covered the following elements:

- A review of Ireland’s existing ethics legislative framework, including a reassessment of the 2015 Public Sector Standards Bill;

- A review of the recommendations of relevant tribunals of inquiry;

- A review of recommendations of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) based on its operation of the current regime;

- Consultations with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the local government aspects of a consolidated statutory regime.

- A review of current EU/International best practice; and

- Public Consultation.

The Review considered input from key public sector stakeholders including the Departments of Justice and Housing and Local Government. It also engaged with the Dáil and Seanad Committees on Members Interests. It also considered recommendations from the Standards in Public Office Commission.

I can inform the Deputy that the recommendations in the Review Report broadly focus on five key themes:

- A legislative framework for Ethics to be underpinned by a set of overarching integrity principles

- New specific statutory prohibitions, including on the use of insider information

- Strengthening disclosures requirements to improve transparency and examining whether the regime should encompass more office holders

- Strengthening the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)

- Post-term employment restrictions for elected officials/public servants that address matters not already covered by lobbying regulation and should align closely withthat legislation.

The Government’s ultimate goal is to create a fit-for-purpose, easy to understand and user-friendly ethical framework that contributes to the quality and efficacy of our public administration.