What TDs’ kids own

Slow-moving law will eventually show interests of families of those in power

THE families of TDs along with chief executives and board members of public bodies will have to declare their interests under new ethics legislation.

However, the Bill to make it happen is grinding slowly through the Oireachtas.

This legislation was recommended in 2012 and published in 2015. However, a number of TDs, including Independent Michael Healy-Rae and Fianna Fáil’s Seán Flemming, have said it goes too far and could adversely affect the privacy of family members.

Mr Healy-Rae told The Sunday Business Post that while he is in favour of public figures recording both debts and earnings, asking children and spouses to do so is ‘too far altogether’.

Under the Public Sector Standards Bill, spouses and children of TDs will have to show what investments and property they own to a standards commissioner.

Other public figures such as local councillors, senators, special advisers and chairpersons of public bodies would be subject to the regulations too.

The laws would also affect any civil servants above the rank of principal officer. The Bill, based on Mahon Tribunal recommendations, is before the Oireachtas.

Any assets that could, within reason, be seen to influence their role as a public representative, even if they belong to their relatives, would have to be declared under the new guidelines.

This would include any land ownership apart from their home, earnings or investments. The recommendation was made by the Mahon Tribunal in 2012 and the subsequent Bill was published in December 2015.

However, there seemed to be a lack of enthusiasm among politicians for it as it moved through the Oireacthas at a very slow pace. In January 2016, it was debated in the Dáil and has currently reached the committee stage, with considerable steps still to be taken if it is ever to be signed into law.