GRECO has closed the evaluation of Ireland´s legal and institutional framework to prevent corruption in respect of parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, taking into account the progress achieved in implementing its recommendations.
In a report published today, GRECO concludes that Ireland has fully implemented eight of the eleven recommendations issued to the country in its Fourth Evaluation Round Report, adopted in 2014. Three recommendations remain partially implemented.
In today’s report, GRECO acknowledges that Ireland has made progress with the development of a general scheme for legislative reform that aims to provide for a comprehensive values-based normative framework to cover, among others, the ethical conduct of members of parliament and enhanced financial disclosure requirements. However, it notes that legislative amendments have yet to be adopted to implement its recommendations in this area fully.
As regards judges, GRECO welcomes as a significant step the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission in January 2025, which will make recommendations for the appointment or nomination to judicial office and aims to ensure that the most qualified and suitable candidates are appointed transparently.
Another positive development is that the government has decided to appoint a further 20 judges over the next two years, representing the second tranche of additional judges following the first tranche of 24 judges appointed in 2023. In addition, a new Judicial Resource Planning Model is under preparation to confirm that the number of judges in place is sufficient to ensure the judiciary’s efficiency.
Some progress has also been made in drafting amendments to the Civil Service Regulation Act, still to be adopted, that will introduce a new advisory body (i.e., the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee) to replace the Review Body on Higher Remuneration. This new committee will advise on remuneration arrangements for senior posts in the public service, CEOs of Commercial State Bodies and members of the judiciary.
