Ethics watchdog demands new powers

ANTI-CORRUPTION measures must be further improved to enhance people’s confidence in the Government, Dáil and other public bodies, the State’s ethics watchdog has said.

Launching its annual report yesterday, the Standards in Public Office Commission said all publicly-funded bodies should have to adhere to the Ethics Acts.

In January, the number of bodies in the civil and public service which are within the scope of the acts increased from almost 400 to approximately 470.