The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) today called on the DPP and the Garda Siochána to speed up its investigation into the tax affairs of former Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins.
Mr Justice Matthew P Smith
A Sipo investigation was launched after it emerged that Mr Collins had made a declaration to the watchdog in 2003 indicating his tax affairs were in order. However, it later emerged he held a bogus non-resident account, which have been widely used to hide income not declared to the Revenue Commissioners.
Sipo suspended its investigation in 2004 following correspondence with the DPP to allow for a Garda investigation to take place. Today the Commission said it still not been given an indication of when a decision may be reached.
"The Standards Commission is concerned at the length of time this matter has been under consideration and urges that it be resolved without further delay," it said in its annual report for 2005, published today.
Mr Collins paid around €130,000 in back tax, interest and penalties and resigned from the parliamentary party over the affair.
Sipo chairman Justice Matthew P Smith has for some years been seeking more powers and clearer regulations on how public representatives and bodies discharge their duties.
"It is important that Ireland continues to improve its anti-corruption measures in order to maintain and enhance public confidence in public administration. Also of importance is Ireland's international reputation in this area," Justice Smith said today.
The Sipo report said the rules governing the use of ministers' images in public information campaigns should be made clearer and said it was "disappointed" it was still being called upon to investigate such complaints.
"Office holders, together with heads of Government departments and offices, should ensure that procedures are in place which are clear and which discourage and prevent any inappropriate use of public funds for personal, electoral or party political gain."
Sipo considered complaints against then Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely for appearing on literature and advertising promoting the Christmas traffic management campaign Operation Freeflow.
It did not sanction him saying the guidelines were unclear. But Mr Callely resigned as he became embroiled in controversy over this issue, his treatment of staff and free decorating work done on his house.
Sipo also investigated Minister of State at the Department of Finance Tom Parlon allowing his image to be used to promote a commercial animal feed.
In both cases it found there was no need for an investigation but wrote to the Taoiseach asking for the guidelines to be reviewed. It also wrote to Mr Parlon advising him that his appearance was "not in keeping with the spirit of the Code of Conduct for Office Holders".
The report also noted its disappointment at the turning down of its request to be given power to investigate at its own initiative. Currently it can only investigate on foot of a complaint.
"Contrary to any view which might be held that it might wish to embark on 'fishing expeditions', the Standards Commission ... considers that the exercise of its powers to investigate on its own initiative would only be used as a last resort, where other procedures had not been invoked or had been ineffective in matters of significant public importance," the report said.
The report welcomed the increasing number of public bodies covered by the Ethics Acts - up from 70 to 470 last year. But it said more bodies could be covered, citing in particular, the Mater and St Vincent's hospitals in Dublin which are not, technically, public bodies.