Corruption bill to be diluted on advice from Attorney General

The Government has been advised by the Attorney General to dilute its new anti-corruption laws, the Irish Independent reports.

The Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill, which was first approved in 2012, prohibits political figures found guilty of corruption from returning to their political posts for up to a decade.

The bill was heavily anticipated as it emerged that convictions for political corruption were almost non-existent.

However, Attorney General Máire Whelan has issued advice to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, suggesting that the severity of the bill is significantly reduced.

A core proposal will reportedly be dropped altogether from the bill. Ms Whelan told that banning those found guilty of corruption from returning to their political position was unconstitutional.

If passed by the Dáil this year, the bill will come into force next Spring.

The legislation will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to instigate criminal charges against those suspected of corruption, giving the courts extra power.

The bill will also outlaw the use of confidential information to corruptly obtain an advantage, further helping Ireland fulfil its UN obligations.

The corruption legislation was called upon after the findings of the Mahon Tribunal, which lasted 14 years, cost €160 million and yet only found one person – former lobbyist Frank Dunlop – guilty of corruption.