asked the Taoiseach whether any members of the Government continue to be members of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Local Authority Membership .
3.
: Further to my reply of 1 March last to the Deputy's previous question on this subject I wish to state that the Tánaiste and Minister for the Environment, Deputy Dick Spring, has now resigned from membership of Tralee Urban District Council. He intends to resign from Kerry County Council at an early date.
The Ministers for Labour and Justice have not yet resigned from the local authorities of which they are members but as I have already indicated it is their intention to do so in accordance with the practice normally followed by Governments in recent years.
: Is the Taoiseach aware that he informed the House here on the last occasion when this question was asked that it was the intention of the Minister for the Environment to resign from Kerry County Council, the Minister for Labour to resign from Wicklow County Council and the Minister for Justice to resign from Limerick County Council? Will the Taoiseach say why the explanation he gave to the House on the earlier date was not correct because it has not been implemented?
: I said it is their intention to resign. I did not give any date or deadline. Precedents have been set by Fianna Fáil Ministers to stay on as local authority members for much longer than these three Ministers, as I pointed out on the last occasion.
: In view of the unsatisfactory and slightly dishonest nature of the reply, I ask the Taoiseach whether he agrees that there is a serious conflict of interests in the Minister for the Environment remaining on as a member of a local authority——
: There certainly is.
: I do not think that it is in accordance with the dignity of the House to attribute dishonesty. That is the second or third time it has happened today, and that is why I raise the matter.
: If the rules of the House require me to withdraw the term, I will do so.
: There are precedents for Ministers in previous Fianna Fáil Governments remaining on as members for much longer periods.
: Does the Taoiseach not consider that there must be a conflict of interests in the Minister for the Environment continuing on as a member of a local authority——
: Of course there is.
: ——for which he has been charged by this House with responsibility? He is responsible for the funding of that local authority. What kind of standards is the Taoiseach seeking to implement? Has the Minister for the Environment refused to resign or to act on the Taoiseach's request that he resign from Kerry County Council?
: Arrangements were made that the members of the Government in due course would resign and well within the time precedent set by Fianna Fáil Ministers.
: Has the Taoiseach requested the Minister for the Environment to resign from Kerry County Council?
: No. I have indicated that it has been the practice for Ministers to resign from local authorities, and I have indicated to the members of the Government the time-scale within which previous Fianna Fáil Ministers carried out that operation. I anticipate that the Ministers will resign from local authorities within the time scale precedents set by Fianna Fáil Ministers.
: Will the Taoiseach answer a specific question? Did the Taoiseach request the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Labour and the Minister for Justice to resign from membership of local authorities?
: I indicated that the practice has been for members to resign in a certain period, that I would expect them to do so, and I indicated the time scale set in precedents by Fianna Fáil as being the outer limit for that action.