The most comprehensive legislation on corruption ever produced in the State will be introduced "in the not too distant future", according to the Minister for Justice.

Mr O'Donoghue told Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) that he had obtained Government approval for the drafting of legislation which would radically reform the law on fraud and dishonesty.

Mr Flanagan said that the laws on corruption were "grossly inadequate", governed for the most part by three pieces of totally outdated legislation from 1889, 1906 and 1916.