Kenny urges reduction of €2,000 gift threshold

THE €2,000 threshold for the purchase of gifts presented by Ministers should be reduced, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

He said that under the Standards in Public Office (Amendment) Act 2007, a change was introduced “to increase the value of a gift from €650 to €2,000 for Ministers and persons serving in parliamentary office’’.

He asked Taoiseach Brian Cowen if he felt that “given the changed circumstances that apply’’, a gift costing €2,000 for a Minister, who might attend at some function or other, was excessive.

“Does he consider that it should be reduced to a more realistic level?’’ he asked.

Mr Cowen said that the €650 figure related to 14 years ago.

“It is always a question of judgment, of deciding what should be the threshold, taking into account the situation does not remain static and to avoid having to make further amendments two or three years hence,’’ he added.

“It would need to be suitable over a longer period of time. It is a question of a judgment call because it is not an exact science.’’

Mr Kenny said that there was a requirement to be cognisant of the need for an effective value for money spend.

“On numerous occasions, I listened to the Minister, Deputy John Gormley, and his party colleagues referring to value for money and how expenses should be kept down,’’ he added.

“The said Minister left out €26,000 of expenses incurred by his department in a Freedom of Information request. He spent a further €3,000 of the Taoiseach’s money on chauffeuring between terminals at Heathrow airport and a further €3,600 for a UK trip in a bio-fuelled car.’’

Mr Kenny said that this was on top of €2,500 which was spent on the use of a VIP airport in the past 18 months.

“I do not understand why he makes a big show of travelling over by ferry to Holyhead and then has a chauffeur-driven car to get from London to Holyhead,’’ he added.

“Surely, there are car-hire firms available in Holyhead if people wish to cut down on effect spend?’’

Mr Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he had issued instructions to Ministers and Ministers of State to be conscious of cost.

Mr Cowen said that there were revised guidelines in place “for the purpose of ensuring that things are done as one would expect’’.