Annual Report 2007

Extension of the scope of the Ethics Acts

In its Annual Reports for 2005 and 2006, the Standards Commission noted that the Minister for Finance had not initiated the appropriate motion in the Houses of the Oireachtas to designate the Chairpersons of Oireachtas Committees as office holders for the purposes of the Ethics Acts, thereby making them subject to the Ethics Acts in respect of those positions. It is understood that the Minister has been consulting with the Committee Chairpersons in relation to this proposal. The Standards Commission welcomes this development.

In its 2006 Annual Report, the Standards Commission recommended that where a public body is being set up, consideration should be given by the Minister for Finance to the introduction of Regulations which, if he considers it to be in the public interest to do so, would prescribe directorships and/or positions of employment within the body for the purposes of the Ethics Acts with effect from the date of the body's establishment. It is understood that this proposal, which would require the co-operation of each Government Department establishing a new body, is being given active consideration. The Standards Commission welcomes this development.

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