Standards body criticises Dempsey, Fahey

The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has been criticised for not observing the Code of Conduct for office holders.

The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has been criticised for not observing the Code of Conduct for office holders.

The Standards in Public Office Commission also found that Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Frank Fahy, also failed to observe the code.

Mr Fahey sent invitations to a party fundraiser on Government-headed notepaper.

Yesterday, Mr Dempsey apologised to the Dáil for using public resources to compile briefing documents for Fianna Fáil candidates in the local elections.

READ MORE

Mr Dempsey has also made arrangements to repay the Department of Education €2,590.40 for the cost of the materials used and the time of the civil servants involved in preparing the information. The money will be repaid by Fianna Fáil.

In a statement today, the Standards Commission concluded that the Code of Conduct for Office was "not appropriately observed by either Minister." The Commission has written to Mr Dempsey, Mr Fahey and the Taoiseach.