Ex-minister had attic altered to hold gifts, says Kenny

A FORMER minister "had to have the attic in his house strengthened to hold all the gifts which were awarded to him over the years", Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claimed as he complained about the two-year delay in bringing an ethics Bill to the Dáil.

Mr Kenny said the Ethics in Public Office (Amendment) Bill 2007 was passed in the Seanad in July that year but has yet to go to the Dáil. The legislation raised the value of gifts which Ministers and parliamentary office holders had to declare to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo), from €650 to €2,000.

The legislation aimed to deter gift-giving that would "influence the recipient in the performance of his or her duties". Mr Kenny asked, given current economic circumstances, if that limit would be reduced to have "only token gifts or awards".

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who said it was a matter for the whips when the Bill would be taken in the Dáil, pointed out that the €650 threshold had not been raised since 1995. The idea was to ensure Sipo was not involved in the valuation of every gift. He said he was not "holding fast" to any limit.

Mr Kenny said the Taoiseach should "send out an instruction to his Ministers to be very careful about what they receive as gifts for duties they perform", pointing to the former minister who had the "attic in his house strengthened". But Mr Cowen said "legislation is already in place which deals with gifts to Ministers in the performance of their duties".

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the Taoiseach had given the impression that it was a scheduling difficulty but "clearly a political decisions has been taken that this Bill will not be progressed".

However, Mr Cowen said the Minister for Finance was updating the guidelines. Speaking before Brian Lenihan said in a radio interview that he would be bringing forward a system for vouched expenses, the Taoiseach rejected suggestions Mr Lenihan "was in some way blocking" progress.

"In fact, he is seeking to ensure that we meet the standards the public will expect, in terms of verification of these matters."