Alan Shatter: Most Mahon recommendations will be implemented

The Government has said that at least two thirds of the recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal report have been or will be implemented.

The coalition today outlined what measures had been taken since the report was published.

Three of the 64 recommendations will not be implemented, while 18 remain under consideration.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the process of cleaning up "the politics of the past", exposed by the tribunal, was underway.

"The progress that has been made...reaffirms this Government's commitment to change any perception that corrupt behaviour can ever again in any shape or form be tolerated in public office, or that a blind eye might again be cast on such behaviour.

"No such behaviour should ever again in the future be tolerated in any circumstances."

Among the recommendations included in the Mahon Tribunal reporter were:

- The establishment of a planning regulator;

- That a breach of ethics should be a criminal offence;

- An increased role for the Standards in Public Office Commission;

- Public officials should be restricted from land dealings for a period of two years after leaving office;

- All political parties should disclose full audited accounts;

- A new definition should be established for political donations and donations should be strictly limited.

Minister Shatter's full speech:

"The Mahon Tribunal report exposed the insidious and corrupt behaviour of some in Irish public life; behaviour that has done inestimable damage to our economy, our environment, our international reputation and perhaps most of all to the trust of Irish people in office holders and public officials.

"The Tribunal has made a series of recommendations for changes in the law on corruption and its prevention. I am glad to report to the House that I have already taken concrete steps in this regard not only to implement the Tribunal’s recommendations, but to go beyond those recommendations, in providing for anti-corruption legislation with innovative preventative and punitive measures. The particular measures that I propose are outlined in the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill which I published on the 20th June.

"The Tribunal has also made recommendations concerning the application of enhanced customer due diligence measures to domestic Politically Exposed Persons in the context of anti money laundering controls. I propose to go further than the Tribunal has recommended and to apply such controls to members and senior managers of Local Authorities. The necessary changes to the general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill will be brought to Government in the Autumn.

"A number of the recommendations of the Tribunal relate to asset confiscation and forfeiture. As indicated in the Tribunal Report the current provisions regulating the confiscation of proceeds of crime as set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996 and 2005 are already relatively robust. While existing measures under Proceeds of Crime legislation do allow for the targeting of benefits derived from corrupt conduct, the Tribunal’s recommendations seek to further improve the overall effectiveness of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act.

"The recommendations of the Tribunal in relation to asset confiscation will now form part of a broader review that has already been undertaken in relation to both the Proceeds of Crime legislation and the Criminal Justice Act.

"The Mahon Tribunal Report also made two recommendations in regard to improving the conduct of future tribunals. These recommendations are already reflected in the text of the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005. I have arranged for its restoration to the Dáil Order Paper and the Bill will be dealt with on Report Stage.

"I believe the commitments which have been given to progress work on the recommendations of the Tribunal, and indeed the progress that has already been made on a significant number of the recommendations, reaffirms this Government’s commitment to change any perception that corrupt behaviour can ever again, in any shape or form, be tolerated in public office or that a blind eye might again be cast on such behaviour.

"Of course, we continue to deal with the legacy of that corrupt behaviour. Our criminal justice system will continue to play its part. While evidence given before the Tribunal cannot be used itself as a basis for a criminal prosecution, the evidence does catalogue the behaviour of those involved and it will assist our law enforcement agencies in pursuing any appropriate matters. I can assure the House that where the Gardaí have evidence of wrongdoing they will pursue it fully.

"Finally, I can confirm to the House that the steps which I have outlined, demonstrate my firm commitment, and that of this Government, to ensuring that there is a robust, comprehensive and effective legislative framework underpinning the State’s response to corruption in public office."