Standards in Public Office Won’t Investigate Bertie

Just over a year ago, Anthony under at Public Inquiry made the complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission that was dealt with today. In a very short statement the SIPO said that there is no grounds for investigating the loans/gifts given to Bertie in 1993/1994 which are now subject to investigation in the Mahon Tribunal. They state their is no basis under either ethics act in 1995 or 2001. Surely a boon for the Taoiseach as he heads to the Mahon Tribunal for what is widely expected to be a drawn out day tomorrow.

Update: Very interesting thoughts over at Fiche Focal by Tomaltach on the question of ethics in office and where it stands after today;

As I wrote in a previous post, the wave of public interest in political integrity has long washed over. In its wake it leaves nothing but apathy and indifference towards the whole question of ethics in office.

For it is indeed extraordinary that SPOC have nothing to say about a finance minister who received bags of cash from a businessman a few days before he expected to become Taoiseach. The most common line you hear in the street about Ahern is that he is as dodgey as Haughey ever was. Personally, I don’t think that is anywhere close to the mark, but it illustrates that his actions, and his lack of clarity surrounding them, have undermined public confidence in Irish government.

How can the SPOC remain silent when the code of ethics which they are established to police says this:

1. Members must, in good faith, strive to maintain the public trust placed in them, and exercise the influence gained from their membership of Dáil Éireann to advance the public interest. (my emphasis – clearly Ahern in breach)

2. Members must conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions and spirit of the Code of Conduct and ensure that their conduct does not bring the integrity of their office or the Dáil into serious disrepute. (my emphasis – clearly Ahern in breach)
11. Members must co-operate with all Tribunals of Inquiry and other bodies inquiring into matters of public importance established by the Houses of the Oireachtas. ( through selective amnesia, changing his story and holding off info, clearly Ahern in breach.)

The allegations against Ahern aren’t that he did favours for money. But they do compromise his own integrity and that of the office he held. Yet he can joke about Man U tickets at the Tribunals, turning the whole thing into a charade…