Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
188. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he has formally taken back responsibility for the ethics reform agenda; if he will provide an update on his legislative priorities in respect of the ethics and standards in public office agenda for the remainder of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31365/23]
View answerThe Taoiseach transferred responsibility for the policy to which the Deputy’s question relates to my Department with effect from 1 March 2023 on foot of Minister Donohue’s recusal from certain functions at that time. This was done by way of the Standards in Public Office (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2023 (S.I. No.89 of 2023). Pending a further statutory instrument to reverse this position, which I expect to be made shortly, I continue to be the Minister responsible.
As the House may recall, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to “reform and consolidate the Ethics in public office legislation”
As the first step, Government agreed in September 2021 that the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform would undertake a review of the statutory framework. This 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. It was completed and the Review report was approved by Government in December 2022 and published in February 2023. Its recommendations broadly focused 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.
To further progress the Programme for Government commitment, my Department is now preparing a draft scheme for legislative reform in consultation with relevant Ministers and informed by the outcome of the Review. It is my intention that the General Scheme will be brought 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.
