Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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During my time as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I commissioned a Review of Ireland's Statutory Framework for Ethics in Public Office. I am happy to inform the Deputy that the Government approved the publication of the Review in December 2022 and also agreed to the preparation of a General Scheme for legislative reform informed by the Review's outcome. The Review Report was published in February and it is available on my Department's website.

In brief, this Review 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, Local Government and Heritage on the local government aspects of a consolidated statutory regime;

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

- A Public Consultation.

The Review considered inter alia input from key public sector stakeholders including the Departments of Justice and Housing and also engaged with the Dáil and Seanad Committees on Members' Interests.

The recommendations of the Review broadly focus on five key themes:

- the legislative framework for Ethics should be underpinned by a set of overarching integrity principles;

- there should be new specific statutory prohibitions, including on the use of insider information;

- disclosure requirements should be strengthened to improve transparency and examining whether the regime should encompass more office holders;

- a strengthening of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO); and

- any post-term employment restrictions contemplated for elected officials/public servants should seek to address matters not already covered by lobbying regulation and that should align closely with that legislation.

My Department is now preparing a draft scheme for legislative reform in consultation with relevant Ministers and informed by the outcome of the Review with the intention of bringing a General Scheme to Government for approval to publish during 2023.

In this, my 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.