Call to bring Ethics Bill to Dáil

The Opposition this morning called on the Taoiseach to bring the Ethics in Public Office Bill before the Dáil.

Addressing Brian Cowen during Leaders' Questions, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny noted the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007 had passed through the Seanad in July two years ago but was still on the Dáil order paper.

He said the main provision of the Bill was to increase the value of gifts that Ministers and parliamentarians can receive.

"In view of the circumstances we find ourselves in, is it proposed to change that, to reduce that limit to have only token gifts or awards made to ministers. . . . You're probably aware of one former minister who had to have the attic strengthened in the house to hold up all the gifts that were awarded to him over the years," Mr Kenny said.

He called on Mr Cowen to instruct Government whip Pat Carey to get the Bill into the House, "and let's amend it to the point that no minister . . . can ever be accused of being put on the spot".

Responding, the Taoiseach said the Bill was a matter for the whips and for the Minister of State as to when it came before the Dáil. He said the threshold for gifts of €650 had not increased since 1995 "and the whole idea was to make sure that it was dealt with in a way that didn't involve the Commission and didn't devalue every gift that was obtained".

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore claimed the delay was political in nature. "The Taoiseach makes it sound as if it's just some scheduling difficulty . . . clearly a political decision has been taken that this Bill is going to be progressed. I've never seen a Bill that has been lying around for so long as this Bill."

"The era of the €900 hotel room is now, and has to be, a thing of the past," Mr Gilmore said, adding one of the ways to convey to the public this was the case would be to bring forward the ethics Bill.

Mr Cowen said the Government was anxious to proceed on the Standards in Public Office Commission's proposals but noted the Minister for Finance was having discussions with the commission on those.

"There was some suggestion that he [Brian Lenihan] was in some way blocking this progress; in fact he is seeking to ensure that we meet the standards the public would expect in verification of these things."

"What I am totally in favour of is that what is expended is accounted for . . . and that it is explained and not just simply thrown out there - because a figure is larger it is more lavish than some other individual who doesn't have those responsibilities and those expenditures."

Speaking this afternoon, the Minister for Finance insisted expenses needed to be seen to be verifiable and that he was not happy to sign off current proposals.

Last year, Mr Cowen said the purpose of the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007 was to require office-holders and Oireachtas members not to accept gifts or loans worth in aggregate more than €2,000 in a calendar year from a friend for personal reasons without obtaining the commission's opinion that acceptance would not be likely to materially influence the recipient in the performance of his or her duties.