Press Releases

Press Release Re Annual Report 2008

Date Released: 10.07.2009

STANDARDS IN PUBLIC OFFICE COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2008

"Ireland's existing anti-corruption mechanisms are recognised as being strong by international standards, but a continuing effort is required to ensure that this remains the case. The trust of citizens in our public institutions is essential for a healthy democracy " according to Mr Justice M. P. Smith, Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission, in the seventh annual report of the Standards Commission published today. (Page 7)

The Standards Commission highlights its concerns about the lack of a statutory code of conduct for directors and employees of state agencies, provision for which was made more than seven years ago in the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. The question of the standard of governance of state agencies has been the subject of much public comment in the recent past; allegations have also been made about impropriety on the part of certain persons in state agencies. The Commission says that there is public expectation that high standards be demonstrated by all public servants in the exercise of their functions and in the use of public resources.

Since the report was written, the Minister for Finance has issued a revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which makes reference to ethical standards and obligations. The Standards Commission, which was not consulted about the code of practice, considers that an administrative code of that nature is not an adequate substitute for the statutory code which the Oireachtas intended. It is strongly of the opinion that it is in the public interest that there is no further delay in introducing a statutory code.

Once again this year, the Standards Commission has devoted a chapter of its report to what it sees as necessary changes to the Ethics, Electoral and Party Leaders Allowance legislation. (pages 55 to 66) These sets of legislation are concerned with ensuring high standards of probity in public life - whether the public servant concerned is an elected or an appointed official. The link between the two is that all participants in Irish public life - whether citizens, public service employees, candidates at elections, or public representatives are assured that the law requires public servants and elected representatives to perform their functions in the public interest rather than in any personal or connected interest, to declare and manage any possible conflicts of interest and that donations, gifts and election expenditure are subject to transparent controls.

The Standards Commission does an important job in supervising the law in these areas and the Commission believes that the connection between the ethics and electoral areas ought to be maintained and that supervision be vested in a single independent body. The Standards Commission considers that the independent Electoral Commission proposed in the Programme for Government 2007 - 2012 should, in addition to a comprehensive supervisory role under electoral law, also have a supervisory role in relation to ethics legislation, including the ethical framework for local government.

The report also deals with a number of complaints including former Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, TD, Councillor Patrick O'Donoghue, Killarney Town Council and Councillor Patricia McCarthy Shannon Town Council. (pages 12 to 15).

The Standards Commission also supervised compliance with the Electoral Acts by TDs, Senators & MEPs, by political parties and their accounting units and by "third parties". In particular, the report contains details of its supervision of "third parties" in relation to the Lisbon Treaty. (pages 25 to 44)

The report shows that over €13.7 million was paid to political parties out of Exchequer funds in 2008 (pages 47 to 52).

The Standards Commission is the independent body charged with oversight of the Ethics and Electoral legislation. The members of the Standards Commission are:

Mr Justice M. P. Smith, Chairman;
Mr John Buckley, Comptroller and Auditor General;
Ms Emily O'Reilly, Ombudsman;
Mr Kieran Coughlan, Clerk of Dáil Éireann;
Ms Deirdre Lane, Clerk of Seanad Éireann; and
Mr Michael Smith, former Minister and TD.

Standards in Public Office Commission Annual Report for 2008

For further information please contact SIPOC at (01) 639 5666, or
David Waddell (01) 6395707

Fax: (01) 6395684
E-Mail: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: www.sipo.gov.ie

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