The Members

The Standards in Public Office Commission is an independent, non-partisan organisation responsible for overseeing compliance with the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended), the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014, and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.

The Ethics Acts set out rules in respect of statements of registerable interest, declarations of interest during proceedings, evidence of tax compliance, and the acceptance of gifts. Under the Ethics Acts, the Commission has the power to investigate possible non-compliance. The Commission has the power to compel witnesses and documents, and may hold an investigation hearing to hear evidence. At the end of an investigation, a report is provided to the person the subject of the investigation, to any person who has made the complaint (if applicable) and is made public. Offences must be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Under the Electoral Act, the Commission oversees election financing, including political donations and election expenditure at general, Presidential and European elections. The Commission may make inquiries into possible non-compliance, and may direct the production of any information, document or thing it considers necessary. If the Commission is of the opinion that there has been a contravention of the legislation, offences must be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Under the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, the Commission oversees the expenditure of state funding for parliamentary activities. It has the power to direct the production of any information, document or thing it considers necessary for its inquiries. Where the Commission is of the opinion that there may have been non-compliance, the Commission shall forward a report of the matter to the Minister and the Chairman of Dáil Éireann (the lower House of Parliament).

Under the Regulation of Lobbying Act, the Commission oversees the registration of lobbyists and compliance with the Act’s requirements to submit returns of lobbying activity to an online register. The Commission has the authority to investigate, including powers of search and seizure. The Commission may levy fixed payment penalties for certain offences, and may prosecute summary offences directly. Indictable offences must be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.