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Legislation
Most of the links below are to the legislation as published on www.irishstatutebook.ie. Readers are advised to read the disclaimer contained on the homepage of that site before clicking on the links below. Links to some of the more recent regulations made under the Ethics Acts are links to the Ethics section of the Dept. of Finance website. The same disclaimer is contained in that section.
The Ethics Acts and Regulations
The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 was enacted on 22 July, 1995. It established the independent Public Offices Commission and Committees on Members' Interests of Dáil and Seanad Éireann. It provides, inter alia, for the disclosure of interests by parliamentarians and public servants and for investigation of possible non-compliance with the requirements of the legislation. The 1995 Act was amended by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. The 2001 Act established the Standards in Public Office Commission (Standards Commission) to replace, and assume all of the functions of, the Public Offices Commission. As well as other matters, it introduced a requirement whereby elected members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and appointees to senior office in the public service are required to furnish evidence of tax compliance. It also made provision for the publication of Codes of Conduct for office holders (e.g. Ministers and Ministers of State), ordinary members of both Houses and public servants.
The complete text of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 is normally available on www.irishstatutebook.ie.
Ethics Acts
Regulations made pursuant to Ethics Acts
- Statutory Instrument No. 145 of 2008 - Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
- Statutory Instrument No. 677 of 2006 - Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies (Amendment) Regulations 2006. Now updated by S.I. No. 145 of 2008
- Statutory Instrument No. 673 of 2005 - Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies (Amendment) Regulations 2005. Revoked by S.I. No. 677 of 2006 and now replaced by S.I. No. 145 of 2008.
- Statutory Instrument No. 698 of 2004 - Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004. Now amended by S.I. No. 145 of 2008.
- Statutory Instrument No. 699 of 2004 - Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Bodies, Designated Directorships of Public Bodies and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004. Now amended by S.I. No. 672 of 2005, S.I. No. 678 of 2006 and S.I. No. 146 of 2008.
- Statutory Instrument No. 576 of 2001 - The Standards in Public Office Act, 2001 (Commencement) Order, 2001.
- Statutory Instrument No. 32 of 1997 - Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Body, Designated Directorships and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations, 1997. Now revoked and replaced by S.I. No. 699 of 2004
- Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 1996 - Ethics in Public Office (Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations, 1996. Now revoked and replaced by S.I. No. 698 of 2004.
The Electoral Acts and Regulations
The Electoral Act 1997 was enacted on 15 May 1997. It provides for the disclosure to the Standards Commission of political donations received by political parties, members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, MEPs and candidates at Dáil, Seanad, European Parliament and presidential elections. It also makes provision for State financing of qualified political parties and the limitation, disclosure and reimbursement of election expenses at Dáil, European Parliament and presidential elections.
There have been several amendments to the 1997 Act. The most significant amendments were introduced in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001. The 2001 Act introduced limits on the value of donations which could be accepted by political parties and individual politicians. It prohibits acceptance of foreign donations. The 2001 also requires the opening and maintenance of Political Donations Accounts and makes provision whereby lobby or campaign groups are, in certain circumstances, required to register as "third parties" with the Standards Commission.
The complete text of the legislation referred to below and regulations made under it, is normally available on www.irishstatutebook.ie. (SI No. 113 of 2007 is currently only available as a downloadable file.)
Electoral Acts
Regulations made pursuant to the Electoral Acts
- Statutory Instrument No. 113 of 2007 - Electoral Act 1997 (Limitation and Reimbursement of Election Expenses at Dáil Election) Order 2007 (pdf version only) (Amended the spending limits and reimbursement amounts for the Dáil general election of 2007.)
- Statutory Instrument No. 87 of 2004 - Electoral Act 1997 (Section 3) Order 2004. (Amended the spending limits at European Parliament Elections of 2004.)
- Statutory Instrument No. 441 of 2004 - Electoral Act 1997 (Section 53) Order 2004. (Prescribed the spending limits at the presidential election of 2004.)
Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2001.
The Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2001 was enacted on 14 July 2001. It provides for the payment of an annual allowance to the leaders of parliamentary parties in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party.
The complete text of the legislation is normally available on www.irishstatutebook.ie.
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