I have previously described to the Deputy the procedures to be followed under the legislation that he cites where an office holder such as a Minister or Minister of State, or a senior official, finds that they or a family member has a material interest in a function of their office that falls to be performed.
Where the statements to which the Deputy refers are required under the legislation he cites, these must be furnished, in the case of a Minister or Minister of State, to the Taoiseach and the Standards in Public Office Commission. Where the office holder concerned is the Taoiseach, he or she must furnish any such statement to the Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission. Any other office holder will furnish any such statement to the Commission.
Senior officials must furnish a written statement to the relevant authority, which would be the Secretary General of the Department concerned. If the Senior Official is a Secretary General, the statement must be furnished to the Secretary General of my Department, and, where relevant, the Secretary General of my Department must furnish his statement to the Secretary General of the Department of Finance.
The 2025 Programme for Government contains a commitment to “Update the Ethics in Public Office legislation” and proposals to reform the legislative framework are currently being prepared by my Department in order to deliver this commitment. The general issue of the suitability of the procedures described above will be considered as part of this comprehensive reform process.
