Politicians subject to new corruption watchdog
Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin confirmed the legal change is imminent as he published a draft document outlining measures which is open to public consultation.
In an anti-corruption move first outlined in the Programme for Government – before being delayed for four years – Mr Howlin’s department is seeking to beef up defences to tackle any actual or perceived concerns that those holding positions of power may be misusing public funds.
They include:
- An insistence that all politicians provide “as a matter of routine” any information on “potential conflicts of interest” that may affect them in their duties.
- The replacement of the current Standards In Public Office (SIPO) group with a Public Sector Standards Commissioner who will be appointed independently of Government and have increased powers to investigate complaints.
- New measures for all backroom officials to ensure, for example, those involved in the re-zoning of land do not have any links to construction groups or companies.
- and “statutory prohibitions” on insider information by politicians “to further their private interests”.
The new system, which is open for public consultation at www.per.gov.ie, will also give whistle-blowers further protections if they feel money is being misspent or questionable financial deals are taking place.
The changes are in response to the 3,270-page Mahon Tribunal report, which when published in March 2012, strongly criticised former taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s explanation of ‘dig-outs’ he received.
At the time of the report, Judge Alan Mahon said “because corruption affected every level of Irish political life, those with the power to stop it were frequently implicated in it”.
Mr Howlin last night said the proposed changes offer a “strong and effective framework” to prevent “corruption risks”, and are a “substantial step” towards “giving effect to the recommendations” of the tribunal.
