The Government's publication of ministerial ethics legislation just weeks before the Dáil is dissolved has been greeted with scorn by the Opposition, who say it cannot become law before the election is called.
The legislation was promised by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last October, as the controversy about payments to Mr Ahern drew to a close.
"More than seven months after [they] stood on the steps of Government Buildings in the aftermath of the 'Bertiegate' affair to announce the introduction of new ethics legislation 'as a matter of urgency', it has eventually seen the light of day," Labour Party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said last night.
However, the decision by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to send the Ethics in Public Office Amendment Bill 2007 to the Seanad first means it cannot become law before the Dáil is dissolved.
"There are only a matter of days left in the legislative life of the 29th Dáil, and the strategy of the Government is clearly to be able to say they published the Bill and then to allow it to 'die' with the dissolution of the Dáil," Ms Burton said.
"Of course it says a lot about the standards of both Fianna Fáil and the PDs that, following the disclosures about the monies received by Mr Ahern, they consider it necessary to introduce legislation to prevent a minister for finance from taking huge cash gifts from wealthy friends.
"Most politicians would simply regard the rejection of such gifts by a key minister as a matter of prudence, good judgment and common sense," she added.
She also noted the Government's decision to substantially increase the thresholds for gifts, property owned, shares held, travel facilities provided or contracts to supply of goods or services to a government department.
"This move will significantly reduce the public information available about interests held by ministers or members of the Oireachtas. I am not aware of any demand for this change from either members of the Oireachtas or the Standards in Public Office Commission," she said.
She said it was "disappointing, but not surprising" that the commission had not received the power to appoint inquiry officers to investigate matters that it had not received a complaint about.
Last night, the Department of Finance said Mr Cowen had said "on a number of occasions that it is reasonable that at least a formal complaint to the SIPO should be required to commence an inquiry process, which, in itself, can carry serious consequences for the person under investigation".
Criticising the time it took the Government to produce the legislation, Fine Gael said: "We have waited six months for legislation that was promised urgently in the wake of the difficulties Bertie Ahern encountered last year."
