asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the provisions of the Local Government memorandum, dated March 1960 containing notes of qualifications and disqualifications for election to local authorities now in force in view of the recent amending legislation; and, in particular, if paragraphs 3 (a) and 7 apply in 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Election To Local Authorities.
21.
There is no change in the position so far as paragraphs 3 to 7 of the memorandum are concerned. The qualifications for election to local authorities referred to in paragraph I were removed by the Electoral Act, 1963, as were some of the disqualifications in paragraph 2. As the statement of existing disqualifications for election to local authorities is of some length I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
A person is disqualified for election if he—
(a) is an infant or an alien;
(b) has received general assistance within the previous 12 months;
(c) has, within the previous five years, been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour without the option of a fine, or to any greater punishment and not received a free pardon;
(d) has, within the previous five years, been adjudged a bankrupt or made a composition or arrangement with his creditors. This disqualification ceases in certain circumstances;
(e) holds any paid office or place of profit under or in the gift or disposal of the local authority other than the office of mayor;
[(a) to (e)—Article 12 of the Schedule to the Local Government (Application of Enactments) Order, 1898];
(f) is convicted of making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining expenses for attending a meeting of a committee of agriculture or a vocational education committee;
[section 2 (7) of the Agriculture (Amendment) Act, 1944; section 6 (6) (b) of the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 1947];
(g) is convicted of acting as a member of a local authority when disqualified or voting when prohibited— disqualifies for a period of seven or ten years from date of conviction;
(h) has not paid any part of any sum due under a charge or surcharge made by a local government auditor;
[(g) and (h)—sections 60 and 62, Local Government Act, 1925; section 94 (3) Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898];
(i) has not paid the whole or part of any sum for rates in respect of a previous financial year (section 57, Local Government, 1941):
(j) is a person in holy orders or a regular minister of any religious denomination (section 9, Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1938; section 58, Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act, 1840; section 94 (1), Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898;
(k) is a member of the Permanent Defence Forces or of the Reserve Defence Forces while actively employed (section 104, Defence Act, 1954).