The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 was enacted on 22 July 1995 and the Public Offices Commission and Committees on Members’ Interests of Dáil and Seanad Éireann were set up.
The Act was amended by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, and the Public Offices Commission was replaced by the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Commission oversees the 1995 and 2001 Acts, together known as the Ethics Acts.
The Ethics Acts provide for, among other things, the disclosure of interests by parliamentarians and public servants and ensures the legislation is upheld.
Under the Acts, elected members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and people in senior office in the public service must also give evidence of tax compliance.
The Acts also provide for the publication of codes of conduct for office holders (such as ministers and Ministers of State), non-office holder members of both Houses and public servants.
Further Information See www.irishstatutebook.ie for the complete text of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and their regulations.