Press release
Standards in Public Office Commission publishes annual report for 2022
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
Today (21 July 2023) the Standards in Public Office Commission published its annual report for 2022. The report provides a summary of the Commission’s activities during 2022 under legislation relating to ethics in public office, electoral financing, and State funding. It includes information regarding operations and compliance with the ethics legislation, complaints and investigations, political donations, state financing of political parties and the registration of third parties and corporate donors.
During 2022, the Commission received 134 complaints under the Ethics Acts. 133 complaints were closed by the Commission during the year, of which 115 related to complaints received in 2022.
The Commission was undertaking two investigations into non-compliance with tax clearance provisions by senior office holders at the start of 2022. During 2022, the Commission approved ten further investigations to pursue non-compliance by senior office holders with the tax clearance provisions of the Ethics Acts. Eight individuals came into compliance while investigations were underway, and the process was halted. The Commission issued two investigation reports pertaining to individuals who had failed to comply with their obligations, neither of whom were in compliance at the end of 2022.
The Commission published its report on the 2021 Dublin Bay South Dáil Bye Election in February 2022 and its report on the 2022 University of Dublin Bye Election in October 2022.
The Electoral Reform Act 2022 was enacted in July 2022. In addition to providing for the establishment of the Electoral Commission, the Act made a number of amendments to the Electoral Act 1997. The amendments relate to political donations, election expenses and statements of accounts.
In November 2021, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, launched the public consultation for the review of ethics legislation which took into account the work of the Standards Commission. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform completed a reform of ethics legislation in late 2022. This was published by the department in February 2023. The Commission is currently liaising with the department on the progression of this legislative reform.
For more information, and to read the Commission’s annual report, visit the website.