Opposition says ethics laws a work of ‘fiction’

NEW ethics laws promised at the height of the Bertiegate affair top a list of proposed Government legislation which the Opposition last night branded a work of “fiction”.

The Bill will force all office holders, TDs and senators to seek permission from the Standards in Public Office Commission before accepting a significant gift or loan from a friend.

The move follows revelations last autumn that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern took €50,000 in loans from 12 associates while finance minister in the early 1990s and €12,000 for attending a dinner with businessmen in Manchester.

Tánaiste Michael McDowell demanded a tightening of ethics rules in order to allow the PDs to remain in Government as the disclosures threatened to rip the Coalition apart last October.

However, opposition parties questioned whether the crowded legislation programme comprising of 25 bills would allow enough time for it to become law before the General Election expected in May or June.

Labour’s chief whip Emmet Stagg branded the list a “work of fiction” as the election campaign would probably begin at Easter.

“Having provided minimal business for the Dáil during the last session the Government is now trying to create the impression of a surge in legislation in the run-up to the election.”