The Department of Finance is to draw up legislation to regulate the acceptance by ministers of gifts from friends following the ending of Coalition tensions over Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's financial affairs. Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, reports
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell put a seal on the dispute during a hastily-arranged press conference in Government Buildings yesterday.
Believing that journalists' microphones were off, Mr McDowell turned to Mr Ahern after both had taken just four questions and said quietly: "We've survived it."
The changes to the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995 will mean that Ministers will be prohibited by law from taking any gift unless they can show that accepting it would not cause a conflict of interest.
Ministers will have to brief the Standards in Public Office Commission confidentially before they accept anything of value from friends or anyone else.
However, drafting of the legislation is not expected to be easy since the commission sought a legal definition of "a friend" six years ago from the government without success.
Meanwhile, the Government has dropped plans to fast-track legislation in the Dáil this week that would allow it to close tribunals of inquiry even in the face of objections from tribunal chairmen.
The legislation has been replaced on this week's Dáil order paper with debates on a 150-strong Defence Forces' contingent for the Lebanon and on an EU/US agreement on air passengers' data.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is to tell the Dáil today that he expects that the Mahon tribunal will end its public hearings by the end of next year. His confidence comes despite the fact that Mahon has yet to begin public hearings into one of the biggest issues facing it: the planning history of the Quarryvale/Liffey Valley shopping centre in Dublin.
The High Court yesterday rejected property developer Owen O'Callaghan's attempt to inquire into allegations made against him by Luton-based businessman Tom Gilmartin.
Following the recent Coalition rift, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are to put in place still undefined "new arrangements to ensure that communication between the two parties is enhanced".
Asked if he believed Mr Ahern has told him everything he needs to know, Mr McDowell said: "I am absolutely satisfied that the Taoiseach has fairly and honestly dealt with me in relation to these matters." Both he and the Taoiseach said their relations had not been strained by the controversy surrounding Mr Ahern's acceptance of loans and gifts.
"I enjoy a close and friendly relationship with the Tánaiste which was not diminished in any way in our positive discussions over recent days," said Mr Ahern.
Mr McDowell said the Government had a mandate to stay in office. "The majority of the people want us to stay together and to continue to work for the country."