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.