Press Releases

Press Statement from Chairman of Standards in Public Office Commission

Date Released: 19.10.2006

Contact: David Waddell, Secretary, SIPO. Tel: +353 1 639 5707; +353 87 232 9814

The Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission wishes to correct a misleading and inaccurate piece which appeared in today’s issue of the Irish Times.

The piece entitled "Ethics body believes stricter laws required" contained several inaccuracies and unfounded statements. Among the errors which the Standards in Public Office Commission wishes to correct are the following:

1. It is not true to state that "a majority of the members of the State's ethics watchdog, the Standards in Public Office Commission, believes that existing ethics laws make it too difficult to secure a conviction against errant office holders".
2. It is not true to state that the Commission is to approach the Taoiseach following his criticism that it has failed to explain why it needs extra powers to launch ethics investigations. Contrary to the report, the Standards Commission already has the power to launch an investigation in the absence of a complaint. The Commission has suggested to the Minister for Finance that it be granted the power to appoint an inquiry officer in the absence of a complaint.
3. It is not true to state that a significant number of the Commission members now believe that politicians are increasingly bypassing election spending limits.
4. The ethics legislation provides for complaints against office holders and members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann. The Standards Commission does not consider that the right of the citizen to complain is restricted in any way.
5. While the ethics legislation is complex, the Standards Commission does not consider that "the current standards set down ... are not sufficiently strict, or clear enough, to make it possible to secure convictions." It has never concluded that this is the case. The legislation provides for a small number of offences - briefly these offences relate to the obstruction of the commission or of an inquiry officer; the destruction of documents; breach of the immunity afforded to complainants under the legislation; disclosure of information contrary to the provisions of the legislation and the giving of false evidence. There have been no convictions in relation to these offences and it has never been claimed that the offences are insufficiently clear to secure convictions.

Issued by the Standards in Public Office Commission on 19 October 2006 email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie

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