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Did Helen McEntee TD comply with her obligations under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001? Integrity, transparency and accountability are paramount. I sent this today to
and I await their reply. To: Standards in Public Office Commission 6 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 W773 Ireland May 6, 2025 Dear Sir/Madam, Subject: Complaint Regarding Potential Breach of Standards by Minister Helen McEntee I am writing to formally request that the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) investigate whether Minister for Education Helen McEntee TD has complied with her obligations under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, particularly with respect to declaring a statement of additional interests as required under the Code of Conduct for Office Holders (2003). This complaint arises from concerns about a potential conflict of interest related to her involvement in the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill 2022 and her husband’s position as a senior director at a pharmaceutical company that reportedly produces drugs used to assist individuals in gender transition. Under Section 5 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, an office holder is required to furnish a statement of registrable interests, including those of their spouse, which could materially influence the performance of their official functions. Additionally, the Code of Conduct for Office Holders (adopted under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001) mandates that office holders avoid conflicts between personal interests (or those of connected persons, such as a spouse) and their public duties. Paragraph 4.1 of the Code specifically requires office holders to disclose any interest that could materially influence their actions in a manner that gives rise to a conflict of interest. Minister McEntee has been actively involved in advancing the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill 2022, which, as outlined in public statements and Oireachtas debates, expands protections for gender identity, including transgender and non-binary persons, as a protected characteristic (Section 3 of the Bill). It has come to public attention, as noted in various posts on X, that Minister McEntee’s husband, Mr. Paul Hickey, holds a senior position at AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures Lupron, a drug used as a puberty blocker for individuals undergoing gender transition. While these posts alone do not constitute conclusive evidence, they raise legitimate public concern about a potential conflict of interest, given that the legislation could indirectly affect the market for such drugs. To my knowledge, no public statement of additional interests has been issued by Minister McEntee regarding her husband’s role at AbbVie in the context of her work on this legislation. If such a statement has not been furnished, this may constitute a breach of her obligations under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Code of Conduct for Office Holders. Specifically, failing to declare a spousal interest that could be perceived as materially influencing her legislative duties would contravene the transparency and accountability standards expected of an office holder. I respectfully request that SIPO investigate the following: 1) Whether Minister McEntee has furnished a statement of additional interests regarding her husband’s position at AbbVie, as required under Section 5 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. 2) Whether Minister McEntee’s involvement in the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill 2022 gives rise to a conflict of interest, as defined under Paragraph 4 of the Code of Conduct for Office Holders, due to her husband’s professional interests in a company producing gender transition drugs. 3) If a breach is found, what remedial actions or sanctions may be appropriate under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001.
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