Ethics in Public Office Act 1995: Revised Consolidation Updated to 1 January 2026 (revisedacts.lawreform.ie)

• Establishes disclosure requirements for Oireachtas members, office holders, designated directors, and public body employees.
• Creates a Standards in Public Office Commission to investigate breaches and provide guidance.
• Prohibits retention of valuable gifts and outlines penalties for non-compliance.
• Amended by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and various ministerial function orders.

"The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, as consolidated and updated to 1 January 2026, establishes a framework for disclosure of interests by office holders, members of the Oireachtas, designated directors, and employees of public bodies. It provides for the appointment of committees by each House of the Oireachtas and a Commission to investigate contraventions, issue guidelines, and prohibit retention of valuable gifts by certain public officials. The Act has been amended by subsequent legislation, including the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and various statutory instruments. Functions under the Act have been transferred between departments, most notably to the Department of Finance as of 1 March 2023. The revised version incorporates all amendments up to the end of 2025."