There is more than a hint of electioneering and political damage limitation in the commitment by Mr Bertie Ahern to the drafting of a new Code of Practice within the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party, and to the establishment of a statutory Public Ethics, Commission. It followed last week's challenge to Mr Ahern, by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, to investigate reports that a former Fianna Fail Minister had received £1.1 from Mr Ben Dunne. And it coincided with the opening days of the Buchanan Tribunal and the resignation of a Fianna Fail councillor who had been found guilty of fraud. In making his announcement, Mr Ahern spoke of his satisfaction that no sitting party TD or Senator was "in any way compromised by the so called "Dunnes/Lowry affair". And he promised to establish a Public Ethics Commission if Fianna Fail was returned to power.
This determination by Mr Ahern to move the tissue of ethics up the political agenda within Fianna Fail is to be welcomed. The party has been the butt of unfair and unfounded allegations of corruption in the past. As the party leader said: "the vast majority of politicians are decent people. It is only the occasional exception that places a doubt in the minds of the public." In future, any deviation from the high standards and ideals of the party founders would not be tolerated, Mr Ahern said.
There was never any great appetite amongst politicians at Leinster House to disclose details of their financial affairs in a public register, as initially proposed by the Labour Party in 1992, and which now applies under the Ethics in Public Office Act. And the requirements of the Electoral Bill will impose further constraints on elected representatives in raising, spending and accounting for money at election time. But these are necessary changes in a modern democracy, if public confidence in the probity of politicians is to be protected.
Mr Ahern said as much in his statement on the need for a Code of Practices within Fianna Fail. And he went on to promise a US style Public Ethics Commission, headed by an official with the status of a High Court Judge or an Ombudsman. One wonders if Mr Ahern has read the fullest terms of the Ethics Act and Electoral Bill. A Public Offices Commission of five prominent officials, including the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Ombudsman, has been established within the last few months. And when the Electoral Bill becomes law, that Commission will have the great bulk of the powers suggested by Mr Ahern for his new body. In addition, a special all party committee of the Dail is in the final stages of drafting guidelines for members on their duties and obligations under these new pieces of legislation.
Discussion of a Code of Practice at Fianna Fail's Parliamentary Party yesterday would seem to have been desultory. A sub committee was then established to devise general standards of behaviour for Oireachtas members and it is expected to report back within a matter of months. By that stage, the special all party Dail Committee should have laid down the ethical standards which will be required of elected representatives. Although Mr Ahern's initiative must be welcomed as an indication of his good faith and his personal commitment to high standards in political life, there is far less to it than meets the eye.