A GOVERNMENT spokesman has questioned the relevance of Fianna Fail's proposal for the establishment of an ethics commission, saying that such a body had already been established by legislation last year.
He was responding to a speech on Tuesday night by the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who said there should be tough standards of behaviour for politicians and public officials.
Mr Ahern proposed the establishment of an ethics commission "to oversee the integrity of public officials and monitor the interest of those who seek to influence them".
Responding yesterday to Mr Ahern's proposal, a Government spokesman questioned the need for it. "There is an Ethics Commission in existence," he said. This had been established by the Ethics in Public Office Act which came into force last year.
The spokesman also questioned "Mr Ahern's proposal for a code of practice for the party's TDs and senators.
The Fianna Fail parliamentary party has appointed five deputies to draw up a code of practice for its members.
"There is an Ethics in Public Office Act. Any further adjustment in the regulation of ethical practices should be done by amendment to the legislation," the spokesman said.
The decision to draw up a party code of practice was also announced on Tuesday night by Mr Ahern. According to the chairman of Fianna Fail's parliamentary party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, it will set down rules of behaviour for the party's TDs and senators.